Brussels, 09/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia announced on Wednesday 9 July that he has reached agreement with Germany on the new German renewable energy rules, bringing them into line with EU state aid rules. He said at a press conference that a formal agreement had been reached and the procedure to endorse the new German rules has begun. An investigation was launched in December to determine whether the reduction in the financing of renewable energy by energy-guzzling companies would give the said companies an unfair competitive advantage. Companies that generate their own power from fossil fuels can be granted exemptions of up to 40% of the surcharge until 2017. The German authorities have until 2017 to submit a permanent plan for the companies in question. The German authorities have told the Commission that they will, indeed, be submitting a new plan before 2017, said Almunia. (EL)