Bob the Builder goes EU friendly

Bob the Builder gives the EU a helping hand

EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs has presented proposals on energy efficiency in Brussels - with a little help from a friend.

Bob the Builder, the popular cartoon character, joined the commissioner at a school in the Belgian capital to mark the plan's launch.

Later, they went to the commission to unveil proposals on improving energy efficiency and tackling climate change.

One is to cut energy use by 20% by 2020 and save 100bn euros (£67bn) a year.

Bob and Mr Piebalgs presented the European School in Brussels with an energy efficiency certificate.

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The commissioner then talked to the pupils about plans to cut the amount of energy used by electrical goods in Europe, and about how buildings can be made more energy efficient.

At the commission, they presented the plan itself, which aims to control and reduce the EU's energy demand at a time when energy prices are high and dependency on producers such as Russia is growing.