Brussels, 10/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Speaking at a lunch-debate on rural energy on Wednesday 9 February, the president of the committee on regional development of the European Parliament, Danuta Hübner, pleaded for energy issues to be taken into account more in the future regional policy. Despite their predominant place in the European landscape (91% of the territory of the EU), rural areas are often neglected in the planning of EU policies, particularly those on energy, she said, launching a debate jointly with the Dutch organisation FREE initiative (Future of Rural Energy in Europe). She argued that the main challenge is to encourage local communities to engage in energy projects, rather than using highly polluting energy sources, such as oil or coal. “This usually takes time and therefore the policy-makers must take this element into consideration”, she added. As a result, according to FREE initiative, energy issues should be better reflected in the future cohesion fund, in order to support rural communities and ensure that they have access to the greenest forms of energy. On one hand, the objectives targeted should help to reinforce the energy efficiency of buildings and on the other, promote cleaner energy systems, such as renewable or low-carbon energy (LPG or natural gas), the association states. In the framework of the current financial perspectives (2007-2013), the cohesion fund earmarks €10 billion to pay for renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. (A.By./transl.fl)