31/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The High Level Group (HLG) on competitiveness, energy and the environment adopted its second report on 30 October. The report is devoted to Europe's long-term energy future and to the investment needed to ensure electricity generation and energy efficiency. The report contains a number of recommendations on the political options likely to result in a sustainable and competitive energy system, low in carbon emissions. Composed of representatives from all parties and co-chaired by Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, in charge of industry, and his colleague, Stavros Dimas, responsible for environmental policy, the HLG seeks to foster closer coordination between policy and legislative initiatives. Its second report is mainly in favour of revision of the emissions quota trading system, investment in low carbon intensity technologies, and the necessary strengthening of international cooperation, especially regarding innovative technology. It also calls on the EU to avail itself of an energy technology research programme centred on innovation. The full text of the report is available on: http: //ec.europa.eu/enterprise/environment/hlg/hlg_en.htm (ol)