WRITTEN QUESTION E-0956/96 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (26 April 1996)

Subject: Environmental technologies forum

In 1994 Parliament asked the Commission to initiate 'Green Technology Offensive for Europe' to help the competitiveness of the Community's eco-businesses sector. Its Report 'Environmental Technologies: Opportunities for Growth and Employment' recognized that the eco-business sector is the fastest growing branch of the Community's economy and must therefore play a leading role in the fight against unemployment.

The report called for a new forum to be established aimed at promoting environmental technology to work out priorities for the promotion of environmental technology and draw up the necessary instruments for a broader application of the technologies.

What steps is the Commission undertaking to establish such a forum?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1996)

The report on environmental technologies adopted by the Parliament in May 1995, calls for a 'green dialogue' to be established between the Community, Member States, scientists, economists, the two sides of industry and environmental and consumers' organisations, with a view to creating a 'green technology offence for Europe'. Such a forum should 'work out priorities for the promotion of environmental technologies and draw up the necessary instruments for a broader application of environmental technologies in the European Union'.

The Commission organised a meeting with national organisations representing eco-businesses in April 1996. Those present decided that there is urgent need for an independent organisation at Community level which they are planning to set up.

To increase the visibility of the Community eco-businesses, the Commission has also commissioned a study on eco-businesses (output, employment and growth rates). The results will be available in September 1996 and the Commission is planning a public presentation in October. The Commission is also working towards the production of a catalogue of Community eco-businesses, based on the existing national catalogues.

Several other actions have been undertaken including an inventory of job-creating local initiatives (including the area of environmental protection) and the special section on green jobs in the Community employment report of 1996. Special attention has been given to green job creation in the conclusions of the Madrid Council and the employment pact announced by the Commission to the Parliament in January 1996. With regard to research and technological development activities, there are several research projects investigating the improvement of innovation, diffusion and employment potential of clean technologies.

It should be stressed that consultative committees already exist at the Community level, either for specific industrial sectors, clean technologies, energy saving, environment related research or for environmental policy making. The fifth environmental programme supports the active participation of business, consumer and nature conservation groups in environmental policy making and implementation. A general consultative forum on the environment was set up in 1992 with representatives from different sectors of society. In the forthcoming review of the composition of this group, the Commission may endeavour to include a representative from the so called environmental industries, once such an organisation is created at Community level.