Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/205 |

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(2004/C 88 E/0213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0686/04

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject:   European hydrogen platform

The creation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform is to be welcomed, but surprisingly not one of the 35 members of the platform's Advisory Council is Portuguese.

The Commission may recall that the University of the Azores' marine environment and technologies laboratory is a pioneering centre for the development of technologies linked to the exploitation of hydrogen.

Does the Commission perhaps consider that research carried out in one of the outermost regions is less valuable than that carried out by the large countries represented on the Advisory Council?

Does it not consider that all the relevant partners should be included in an initiative of this kind, irrespective of their size?

Will the Commission consider expanding the Advisory Council to include, for example, the University of the Azores' marine environment and technologies laboratory?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(21 April 2004)

The Technology Platform for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, recently launched in January 2004, is an initiative that intends to include all actors and activities in Europe, working in advancing the technologies which may lead to a future Hydrogen Economy. The Advisory Council (AC) is one of the key bodies of the Platform since it will steer and guide its various components and actors.

The first Advisory Council has been elected for an initial period of 18 months and is composed by high level personalities representing different players of the economy and society in Europe, including the research community and main industrial sectors actively involved in the development of the relevant technologies.

Although none of the present members of the AC is Portuguese, other Portuguese stakeholders will certainly be in the various bodies and structures of the Platform, such as the Member States Mirror Group, Steering Panels and Initiative Groups and more importantly the Platform operations, where all relevant ongoing activities expressing an interest in being involved are welcome. The Commission takes note of the possible interest of the ‘Laboratorio de Ambiente Marínho e Tecnologias, da Universidade dos Açores’.

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