European “utilities” experiencing increasing difficulties. - According to the most recent European Energy Market Observatory (EEMO) report published by Capgemini, public utility services (gas and electricity) in Europe are no longer considered as long-term industries and are also beginning to suffer from the crisis and accumulated debt of almost €350 billion, which is double the 2005 figure. This can partly be explained by the fall in energy consumption (0.2% decline for electricity and -2% for gas in the first quarter). The utilities are also suffering from a regulatory environment that is not facilitating their growth (particularly in Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain). At a European level, the energy efficiency directive is particularly binding on operators' participation in reducing energy consumption to 1.5% a year as from 2014. The third major concern involves the difficulty of European countries to develop a credible energy vision for the future and political decisions come into conflict with the different economic targets set out. Determination to develop renewable energies is stalling, for example, and can be directly related to the reduction in subsidies. (IL/trans/fl)