[en] Increased levels of competition and cooperation among national and international energy oriented industries in the proposed European common market are expected to improve the efficiency and dynamism of Italian industrial firms and produce a positive effect on the sluggish Italian economy. However, until such time as the market functions properly, the option for public intervention should still be kept available in order to safeguard the free enterprise system. In addition to promoting overall improvements in the use of energy, free enterprise in the energy markets should also benefit national and international environmental protection programs in that increased competition, as well as, the enforcement of European-wide pollution abatement regulations are expected to stimulate the reconversion and transformation of production processes and products in the energy sector