<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"Rising energy prices are putting great pressure on the lowest income sections of the population in particular. In order to cushion the social effects of this development, Commission President Barroso has called on Member States to consider introducing social tariffs for basic energy requirements.  1.What is the Council’s view of the call to introduce social tariffs for energy provision?  2.What action has the Council so far taken to encourage energy companies in Member States to introduce social tariffs?  3.Does the Council think that basic energy provision is a fundamental social right? If so, what instruments can be used to implement this fundamental right in Member States?  4.Can the Council identify any best practices or exemplary instances which can guide Member States when introducing social tariffs for energy?"
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>
Rising energy prices are putting great pressure on the lowest income sections of the population in particular. In order to cushion the social effects of this development, Commission President Barroso has called on Member States to consider introducing social tariffs for basic energy requirements.  1.What is the Council’s view of the call to introduce social tariffs for energy provision?  2.What action has the Council so far taken to encourage energy companies in Member States to introduce social tariffs?  3.Does the Council think that basic energy provision is a fundamental social right? If so, what instruments can be used to implement this fundamental right in Member States?  4.Can the Council identify any best practices or exemplary instances which can guide Member States when introducing social tariffs for energy?