Brussels, 01/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 21 November, the European Parliament held a seminar on "The Challenges of a Sustainable Energy Policy for Europe". "The EU's main source of energy is saving energy! And it would be wrong not to use it because we can save between 20 and 30% without any economic loss", said German Social Democrat Mechtild Rothe, rapporteur on the proposed directive concerning energy efficiency in end-use and energy services, and on the EP's initiative calling upon the European Commission to present a proposed directive on the production of heat and air-conditioning using renewable energy (for more details on the report, see EUROPE 9077). The debate on renewable energy must not be taken only from the point of view of climate change, but must also take account of our energy dependence, "otherwise we will go back to promoting nuclear, as it has no effect on the climate", warned Ms Rothe. Many questions still remain unanswered, noted Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca (EPP-ED, Spain), referring to the impact of energy dependence on growth, or the possibility of establishing an alternative way of charging for energy. Vittorio Prodi (ALDE, Italy) spoke out in defence of the EP 's initiative on hydrogen, which represents a "metaphor for change", because it will allow considerable progress to be made in terms of energy efficiency. Addressing a relatively young assembly, Mr Prodi sent out the following message: " by making use of the knowledge provided by new technologies, we must transform our system of using energy to make it sustainable, by developing our feeling of responsibility towards the future generations".