Brussels, 09/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Trialogue negotiations are going great guns on the directive on energy efficiency. Commissioner Günther Oettinger told the European Parliament industry committee (ITRE) on Tuesday 8 May that he is hopeful that agreement will be reached by July. That said, following the trialogue meeting on Tuesday evening, negotiators were still divided over whether or not to include in the text the option of freezing allowances to try to resolve the weaknesses of the ETS (emissions trading scheme) for the third CO2 emissions allowances trading period, which is due to begin in 2013. The weaknesses of the scheme resulted in far too low a carbon price to serve as an incentive to investment in clean technology. Parliament is prepared to abandon efforts to include the above-mentioned option so long as member states agree to support the price of carbon. Three further trialogue meetings are scheduled. The next will take place on 29 May. (AN/transl.rt)