Brussels, 11/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - The energy package adopted by the Commission on Wednesday (EUROPE 9341) won overall support from those defending the interests of European industry. UNICE, the European Employers' Federation, was pleased with all of the proposals but is, however, concerned at the stress put on renewable energies and fears that the cost of them could rocket and harm companies. On the other hand, UNICE, is supporting the appeal to look at nuclear energy from a different perspective. Addressing the press, UNICE president, Ernest-Antoine Seillière, underlined the need for Member States to agree to delegating at a Community level, as they have done in implementation of a common trade policy. The UEAPME, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, particularly welcomes the Commission's proposal on the separation of production activities from network and distribution. It supports the emphasis given to the efficient use of energy, but underlines the importance of improving the situation in this area by removing the financial obstacles to SMEs, and by creating innovative markets rich in potential. The SME Union highlights the need for more competitive energy markets, whose regulators would have enhanced powers. It also calls for an energy policy that guarantees sufficient access and better prices to producers, particularly SMEs. Furthermore; it calls on the Commission and Member States to boost energy efficiency among SMEs by introducing special programmes. The International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (IFIEC) particularly welcomes the stress put on the lack of openness and competition on the energy markets, which undermines the competitiveness of energy consumer industries on the world markets. On the other hand, it demonstrates greater caution with respect to the EU's unilateral commitment on C02 emissions but welcomes the recognition of nuclear energy. The EURIMA association of insulation businesses welcomes the emphasis put on energy efficiency, particularly in buildings, but calls on the Energy Council to place energy performance at the heart of EU energy priorities, particularly by supporting the extension of the field of the 2002/91/EC directive on buildings that have a surface area of less than 1000m2. The FORATOM nuclear industrial association welcomes the fact that the Commission gives nuclear energy “the official recognition it deserves as part of the inevitable present and future EU energy mix”. (eh)