09/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Greens of the European Parliament are again criticising the priorities of the 7th EU Research and Development Programme. In a press release, German Green member Rebecca Harms speaks out saying: “It is totally irrational that nuclear fusion - a technology that will be available in forty years' time at the earliest - should receive over 50%” of funding intended for the energy sector. Ms Harms went on to say: “One can challenge the fact that billions of euros are foreseen for the ITER project”. One should rather focus on the research effort for technologies that will be available by 2020, she said, urging the future Austrian Presidency to correct, during the first half of 2006, the priorities fixed for energy research. In her view, it would be necessary to use the means available especially in favour of energy efficiency in buildings, electrical appliances and cars, and to give fresh impetus to the development of alternative energies.