Brussels, 22/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the forthcoming European summits on 23 May and at the end of June on growth and employment, the wind industry is ratcheting things up a notch in an effort to promote immediate investment advantages in its sector. The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) indicated in a press release on 21 May that “every EU citizen is paying more than €700 for energy imports and this is increasing as prices climb and domestic resources deplete. But wind energy replaces imported fuel - saving €5.7 billion in 2010 alone - while creating growth”. In 2010, the wind energy sector's growth rate was twice that of EU GDP and as overall unemployment rose between 2007 and 2010, over 50 new jobs were created in the European wind industry daily, explains the EWEA. It emphasises that “EU funds must be leveraged, for example through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and by potentially using structural funds, towards technologies that can make a significant and immediate impact on jobs” and it states that wind energy and its benefits must also be prioritised in the EU's 2014 to 2020 budget and R&D in the sector be given support to help it reach its full potential. (EH/transl.fl)