Brussels, 05/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - According to figures published on Monday 4 February by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), installed wind power capacity grew by 18% last year in the EU to 56.535 megawatts (MW). The total capacity of new wind turbines brought online across the EU in 2007 was 8,554 MW, a 935 MW increase on 2006. Spain set a new record in 2007, installing 3,522 MW to reach 15,145 MW in 2007, with 10% of its electricity now coming from wind power. France installed an extra 888 MW to reach 2,454 MW and Italy installed 603 MW extra to reach 2,726 MW, but a handful of markets pulled in the opposite direction. Despite 1,667 MW of new capacity installed in 2007 (bringing its total to 22,247 MW), Germany (like Portugal and the United Kingdom) did not make as striking progress as they might have done. According to the EWEA, the 'change of pace in some countries can be explained by a mixture of slow administrative processes, problems with grid access and legislative uncertainty.' These problems may be partly solved when an ambitious new directive, currently being studied at the Council and European Parliament as part of the energy and climate package (see EUROPE 9586) on the promotion and use of renewable energy, comes on line. The EWEA welcomes the positive performance of the new member states, which have increased installed capacity by 60%, with Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria at the top of the league (figures available at http: //http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/mailing/windmap-08g.pdf ) (E.H.)