Many activities have been set in motion under the Thermie programme.

The therm sometimes has been confused with the thermie (see below).

I would cite our vain efforts on behalf of Thermie II.

A thermie (th) is a metric unit of heat energy, part of the meter-tonne-second system sometimes used by European engineers.

The thermie is equal to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 tonne of water by 1 C.

The EC has supported this development with an energy conservation grant from its Thermie Programme, which seeks to encourage energy-saving technology.

The plant has received an energy conservation grant under the EC's Thermie programme in recognition of the expected reduction in CO2 output.

My second example concerns THERMIE.

The Council has already cut resources for the Save II programme and the Thermie programme, which I truly regret.

No one mentions THERMIE II any more, another programme which has become absolutely vital.

I should also like to remind you that we used to have a programme called THERMIE II.

There has been no movement on the THERMIE programme, a programme on renewable energy, which is being held up by the Council.

Let me just remind you of SAVE, THERMIE, etc.

In 1994, the station was awarded funding from the European Commission under the THERMIE Demonstration Programme.

But as long as the conditions are not right, all these programmes like Save, Altener, Thermie and Synergy are no more than a front which hides the reality!

The purpose of THERMIE II was to introduce renewable forms of energy - and that too would have been useful, but the lobby groups always oppose such measures, and nothing happens.

I would just like to remind you once more of the shameful fiasco - since there is not enough money - of SAVE, JOULE and THERMIE.

Yesterday or today there were reports in Le Monde and Die Welt stating that there are also irregularities associated with Altener, Thermie, and technical assistance in the case of Chernobyl.

Of course this applies particularly to the Council, if I may remind you of the meagre funds allocated to the JOULE, THERMIE, ALTENER, etc. programmes.

Is not it the case that the European Commission, through the THERMIE programme, would back Bilsthorpe only if it was certain to go ahead, and that the only way to ensure that was through Government support?

Two types of coordination ought to be considered: firstly coordination of Community programmes devoted specifically to energy, namely THERMIE, SAVE, ALTENER and SYNERGY.

As you know, financing of EC energy centres through the THERMIE programme had to stop at the end of 1995 and the centres are being temporarily supported by SYNERGY while the Commission is seeking an appropriate solution for their future.

We believe that the second part of Amendment No 12 can be incorporated into our proposal, with the exception however of the reference to the promotion of technology, simply because this has more to do with the actions that are evolving within the framework of the Thermie programme.

Finally, Mr President, the European Parliament deplores the drastic energy cuts made by the Council in the Community budget, cuts that have cast doubt on the future of the European instruments already consolidated within the Alterner, Thermie and Safe programmes, especially those intended for international cooperation in those sectors.