<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"Under the previous Framework Support Programme in Portugal, there was provision, under the terms of the MAPE Programme, for a range of specific subsidies for installing renewable-energy-based electricity generating stations. These subsidies were of indisputable importance in bringing about the progress achieved with such power stations and hence these technologies, in recent years.  Of the various renewable-energy sources, solar energy was one of the beneficiaries of these subsidies. The use of solar energy, whether through photovoltaic cells or thermo-electrical systems offers great scope for progress in terms of improving available technology. Indeed, along with wave power, solar energy is one of the renewable energies which promises to see the greatest technical and technological developments in coming years.  These subsidies therefore need to be kept up over the 2007‑13 period, so as not to jeopardise the entire European renewable energy sector. Without public subsidy, there will be no heavy investment in installing power stations of this kind, which cannot, on their own, compete with the production costs of traditional technology due to the fact that the latter's costs do not include their cost to the environment.  An absence of public subsidies could lead to a slow down in European research into renewables, which, given the stage that the development of renewables is currently at, could prejudice Europe's competitiveness vis-à-vis the rest of the world.  Unless public funding continues, local and regional development processes based on renewables will no longer be viable; this would have a negative impact on many regions in which the abundance of the renewable resources in question constitutes an often unique opportunity to implement sustainable development.  1.What Community aids are scheduled for continuing research into an installation of solar energy electrical power stations?  2.Is it possible that in Portugal, Community funds could continue to be used to install renewable-energy-based electrical power stations which have proved to be of indisputable significance in the progress made with such power stations, and consequently on the associated solar energy technology, in recent years?"
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [8]. </s>
Under the previous Framework Support Programme in Portugal, there was provision, under the terms of the MAPE Programme, for a range of specific subsidies for installing renewable-energy-based electricity generating stations. These subsidies were of indisputable importance in bringing about the progress achieved with such power stations and hence these technologies, in recent years.  Of the various renewable-energy sources, solar energy was one of the beneficiaries of these subsidies. The use of solar energy, whether through photovoltaic cells or thermo-electrical systems offers great scope for progress in terms of improving available technology. Indeed, along with wave power, solar energy is one of the renewable energies which promises to see the greatest technical and technological developments in coming years.  These subsidies therefore need to be kept up over the 2007‑13 period, so as not to jeopardise the entire European renewable energy sector. Without public subsidy, there will be no heavy investment in installing power stations of this kind, which cannot, on their own, compete with the production costs of traditional technology due to the fact that the latter's costs do not include their cost to the environment.  An absence of public subsidies could lead to a slow down in European research into renewables, which, given the stage that the development of renewables is currently at, could prejudice Europe's competitiveness vis-à-vis the rest of the world.  Unless public funding continues, local and regional development processes based on renewables will no longer be viable; this would have a negative impact on many regions in which the abundance of the renewable resources in question constitutes an often unique opportunity to implement sustainable development.  1.What Community aids are scheduled for continuing research into an installation of solar energy electrical power stations?  2.Is it possible that in Portugal, Community funds could continue to be used to install renewable-energy-based electrical power stations which have proved to be of indisputable significance in the progress made with such power stations, and consequently on the associated solar energy technology, in recent years?