2006/77/EC: Commission Decision of  23 December 2005  Commission Decision setting up a High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment
Date: 2005-12-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: committee (EU), competitiveness, energy policy, environmental policy, industrial policy, operation of the Institutions, sustainable development

8.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 36/43

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 23 December 2005

Commission Decision setting up a High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the
Environment

(2006/77/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Article 2 of
the Treaty establishing the European
Community assigned the Community and the Member
States the task of promoting a harmonious, balanced
and sustainable development of economic activities, a
high level of employment and of social protection,
equality between men and women,
sustainable and
non-inflationary growth, a high degree of competi-
tiveness and convergence of economic performance, a
high level of protection and improvement of
the
quality of the environment, the raising of the standard
of living and quality of life, and economic and social
cohesion and solidarity among Member States.

In accordance with the Communication from the
Commission entitled ‘Implementing the Community
Lisbon Programme: a policy framework to strengthen
EU manufacturing — towards
integrated
the Commission
approach for
announced the intention to call upon the advice of a
High Level Group on competitiveness, energy and the
environment, in particular regarding the basic and inter-
mediate product industries.

industrial policy’ (1),

a more

The High Level Group should be designed to contribute
to examining the links between industrial, energy and
environmental policies and ensuring the coherence of
individual initiatives, whilst improving both sustainability
through the
and
and
competitiveness;
balanced participation of
to
creating a stable and predictable regulatory framework
where competitiveness, energy and environment go
hand in hand, notably building upon input
from
research in this field.

contribute,
relevant

stakeholders,

(4)

The High Level Group should bring together represen-
tatives of
the Commission, Member States, European
Parliament and relevant stakeholders notably industry

(1) COM(2005) 474 final of 5.10.2005.

and civil society,
NGOs and research/academia.

inter alia, consumers,

trade unions,

(5)

The High Level Group on competitiveness, energy and
the environment therefore has to be set up and its terms
of reference and structures detailed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

A High Level Group hereafter referred to as ‘the group’ is hereby
set up by the Commission.

Article 2

Mandate

The group’s mandate is to address issues where competitiveness,
energy and environmental policies interrelate. The mandate is
given for
it may be extended by Commission
Decision.

two years:

The group will provide advice, in the most appropriate format,
addressed to policy makers at Community and national level,
industry and civil society organisations.

Article 3

Composition — appointment

The members of the group shall be appointed by the
1.
Commission from high level persons with competence and
responsibility in the areas of industry, energy, and the envi-
ronment.

2.

3.

The group shall be composed of up to 28 members.

The following provision shall apply:

— the members are appointed for their expertise in a personal
the group shall nominate a
sub-group

capacity. Each member of
personal
hereafter referred to as ‘sherpa’ sub-group,

representative

preparatory

to

a

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Official Journal of the European Union

8.2.2006

The group, the ‘sherpa’ sub-group and the ad hoc groups
6.
normally meet on Commission’s premises in accordance with
the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission
provides secretarial services.

The group will decide on the items to be included on the

7.
agenda for discussion.

8.
The Commission may publish, in the original language of
the document concerned, any résumé, conclusions, or partial
conclusion or working document of the group.

Article 5

Meeting expenses

travel
reimburse
‘sherpas’, experts and observers

and subsistence
The Commission shall
expenses
in
for members,
connection with the group’s activities in accordance with the
provisions in force at the Commission. The members of the
‘sherpa’ sub-group and ad hoc groups shall not be
group,
paid for their duties.

Meeting expenses are reimbursed within the limits of the appro-
priations allocated to the department concerned under the
annual procedures for allocating resources.

Article 6

Entry into force

The decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 23 December 2005.

For the Commission

Günter VERHEUGEN
Vice-President

— members of the group shall remain in office until such time

as they resign, are replaced or their mandate ends,

— members who are no longer able to contribute effectively to
the group’s deliberations, who resign or who do not respect
the conditions set up in the first point of this Article or
Article 287 of
the Treaty establishing the European
Community may be replaced for the remaining period of
their mandate,

— the names of members appointed individually are published
on the Internet site of DG Enterprise and Industry and/or in
the Official Journal of the European Union, series C. The names
of members are collected, processed and published in
accordance with the provision of Regulation (EC) No
45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 18 December 2000 on the protection of
individuals
to processing of personal data by the
with regards
free
Community institutions
movement of such data (1).

and on the

and bodies

Article 4

Operation

1.

The group is chaired by the Commission.

The ‘sherpa’

sub-group will prepare the discussions,
2.
position papers and advice for actions and/or policy measures
to be endorsed by the group; it will work in close contact with
the Commission services.

The group will seek input from experts and stakeholders
3.
through ad hoc arrangements, and may set up a limited number
of ad hoc groups to examine specific questions under the terms
of reference established by the group; the ad hoc groups shall
be disbanded as soon as these have been fulfilled.

4.
The Commission may ask experts or observers with
specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate
in the group or ad hoc groups’ deliberations if this is useful
and/or necessary.

5.
Confidential information obtained by participating in the
group or ad hoc groups’ deliberations process should not be
divulged.

(1) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.