09/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - In a statement of 31 July, Euroheat & Power, international association for combined heat and power (co-generation), welcomed the debate launched by the Commission to improve the functioning of the Internal Energy Market. The Association in particular welcomes the Commission's intention to draw up a proposal for a directive for 2002 aimed at promoting co-generation. For Euroheat & Power, this proposal should comprise: - common definition and methodology for the certification of co-generation plants allowing for concretely establishing the combined production of heat and energy as well as correct monitoring; - a "burden-sharing" mechanism allowing to break down the Community target (18% of Community electricity production through co-generation in 2010) to national ones; - a requirement on Member States to give an efficiency-oriented bonus (tax refunds, bonus, etc.) to the use of co-generation; - basic rules to be observed when designing certificates trading schemes in order to allow for future convergence; - a monitoring mechanism at Community level.