The debate on the Commission's initiatives on energy went immediately to the heart of the matter, including the foreseeable criticisms and harshness. Negotiation will be long and difficult: Commissioner Andris Piebalgs hopes that it will be concluded under the French presidency of the Council, that is, before the end of 2008. This is a reasonable timescale, given the importance of what is at stake and the Commission's brave, almost revolutionary, proposals, and taking account of the fact...