Brussels, 22/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - In response to the request from the European Council of March 2007, the European Commission, on Tuesday 22 April, launched a public consultation exercise on the modernisation of the emergency oil stock regime. This exercise will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to submit their views by 17 June 2008 before the Commission develops its proposal for a possible revision of Council directive 2006/67/EC. This directive requires member states to maintain a minimum level of stocks of crude oil and/or oil products. The Commission plans to bring forward a proposal for a revised directive in the second half of 2008. The document can be viewed at http://www.ec.europa.eu/energy/oil/consultation/oil_stocks_en.htm (E.H.)