Brussels, 24/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - France is in principle in favour of co-ordinated management of strategic stocks of oil at a European level although it does not approve of all the methods put forward by the European Commission in its recent proposal (see EUROPE 12 September p 12). This forms the basis of the declaration made at a World Energy Forum fringe meeting last Saturday in Japan by the French delegate for industry, Nicole Fontaine. The Minister, who was also expected to meet with the Vice President of the European Commission, Loyola de Palacio, who is also in charge of the energy and transport portfolio, indicated that the proposal to increase European consummation stocks from 90 to 120 days "posed a feasibility problem". If Paris appears to be in favour of the principle of co-ordinated management of stocks, Germany and the United Kingdom are firmly opposed to it, indicated certain diplomatic sources. Berlin does not want to have new charges imposed on its industry and London is loath to give up national autonomy in this area.