WRITTEN QUESTION P-2436/01

by Francesco Speroni (TDI) to the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Subject: European Energy and Transport Forum

The above Forum was set up by the Commission by decision of 11 July 2001. In the case of the seats allocated to trade union representatives, the decision provides that the latter shall be appointed solely by the European Trade Union Confederation, explicitly excluding

independent trade unions which represent, inter alia, most pilots and air traffic controllers. As a result, these groups are now excluded from the current work on the single European sky, in which they have participated hitherto and which will in future fall within the remit of the Forum.

What are the reasons behind his decision and what steps, if any, will be taken to avoid exclusions of this kind?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 2001)

The European Energy and Transport Forum the Honourable Member is referring to comprises 34 members, six of whom represent the unions. The Forum's role is to deliver opinions on the Commission's energy policy and transport policy initiatives. It will also act as an energy policy and transport policy observatory. It will consider whether the structures of those sectors are competitive and appropriate, while also taking account of environmental, social and safety concerns.

The reason the Commission called upon the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to select the six union representatives is that the ETUC is the body representing trade unions at European level across all sectors, including energy and transport.

It is true, however, that not all unions are affiliated to the ETUC. As the Commission wished for operational reasons to restrict the number of members taking part in the Forum, it was not possible to arrange for all trade union organisations to be represented within it.

It is therefore up to the independent trade union organisations to approach the ETUC so as to examine the options for being involved in the Forum's work.

It should also be borne in mind that Article 5 of Commission Decision 2001/546/EC of 11 July 2001 setting up a consultative committee, to be known as the European Energy and Transport Forum(1), stipulates that the Forum may invite to participate in its work any person with a specific competence for an item on the agenda.

Lastly, and with more specific regard to the Single European Sky, the Commission will continue to work, as it has in the past, with all the players in the field, including representatives of independent trade unions (pilots, air traffic controllers, etc.). The Forum's mandate will extend beyond matters relating directly to the Single European Sky.

The Single European Sky dossier is also being handled by the Civil Aviation Social Dialogue Committee. The organisations called upon to take part in that dialogue have been selected on the basis of representativeness criteria, including those laid down in Commission Decision 98/500/EC of 20 May 1998 on the establishment of Sectoral Dialogue Committees promoting the Dialogue between the social partners at European level(2). On the union side, both the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF), which represents inter alia air traffic controllers, and the European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents pilots, are members of this Committee.

(1) OJ L 195, 19.7.2001.

(2) OJ L 225, 12.8.1998.