Ahead of the European Council meeting on 11th December, which will discuss EU energy policy, leading economist Ruth Lea warns in a new briefing paper for the TaxPayers' Alliance and Global Vision that the proposed EU Renewables Directive would drive up electricity costs, harm the economy and increase fuel poverty. In a comprehensive survey of research on the issue by the British Government, the House of Lords and leading think tanks and energy consultancies, she concludes that the potential costs of the Directive will be unsustainably high for consumers, businesses and the economy as a whole.