Brussels, 06/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - In its response to the Green Paper made public on 3 October, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) considers that the Commission document “does not fully respond” to the problem of security of supply. “Everyone knows that the energy companies and national governments are on the defensive. That is why we are calling for systematic reference, in all future documents on energy, to regional players and organisations that represent them as official partners in the European energy policy. Such re-cognition should not be restricted to improving energy efficiency but should also involve support for energy diversification, sustainable development and innovation,” stressed the President of AER's regional policies committee Onno Hoes. AER also called on the Commission to commit itself more strongly in the promotion of renewable energy with the energy mix and to work toward an increase in financial support for R&D in this area, particularly through the 7th framework programme for research and development (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). (eh)