Brussels, 24/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission is to approve the new State aid regime that is to replace the system to expire on 23 July 2002. We recall that this new system, expiring end 2010 (see details in EUROPE of 18 July, p.12), provides for two categories of aid to current production: operating aid for the most successful units, and aid to reduced activity (until end 2007 at the latest) for the others. The recommended provision provides for a sliding scale of aid with a view to allowing progressive transfer of aid to the renewable energies sector, so that the EU may preserve a base of indigenous primary energy sources that are gradually less and less polluting.