European Commission to create forum for transport and energy industries

The new European Energy and Transport Forum will act as an observer of energy and transport policies, giving opinions on all Commission initiatives, and assisting in organising and analysing debates and actions in the framework of these policies. The Forum has been set up in response to the request of the Transport Council, and is needed to replace the Energy Consultative Committee, whose mandate expired in February this year, says the Commission.

“The Commission must listen to the views and advice of the industries and civil society when drafting its policies,” said Loyola de Palacio, Vice President responsible for Energy and Transport. “The Forum will play a key role in this context. It will also provide a more co-ordinated basis for debates on and approaches to energy and transport policy.”

The Forum will consist of 34 members covering a broad range of activities in the fields of energy and transport, including operators, managers, users and consumers, trade unions, representatives of environmental and safety concern groups, and universities. The diversity of the Forum’s members is designed to enable the Commission to take a broader view of issues when drafting policies.