L 195/58 Official Journal of the European Communities 19.7.2001 COMMISSION DECISION of 11 July 2001 setting up a consultative committee, to be known as the ‘European Energy and Transport Forum’ (notified under document number C(2001) 1843) (2001/546/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas: (1)  The conclusions of the Transport Council of 20 September 2000 (') called for the Commission to submit a proposal without delay for setting up a European forum at the Commission consisting of representatives of the sector concerned to examine all the factors affecting the competitiveness of transport and to consider adjustments to the structures in this sector. The proposal should have due regard for social, environ- mental and safety objectives. (2)  The mandate of the Energy Consultative Committee set up under Commission Decision No 96/642 () of 8 November 1996 lapsed in February 2001. (3)  In view of its need for a consultative discussion body made up of individuals qualified to examine a wide range of issues to do with energy and transport policy, the Commission proposes to set up a European Energy and Transport Forum. (4)  Considering the interdependence of energy and trans- port policies and the need to bring them into line with each other, it is useful and appropriate to bring repre- sentatives of the energy and transport industries together within a single body. (5)  This dialogue should enable the Commission to gather opinions on any Commission initiative in the area of energy and transport policy and to benefit from the expert opinion of a monitoring centre. (6)  This forum should be set up, its mandate defined and its administration organised, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 1. A consultative committee, to be known as the ‘European Energy and Transport Forum’, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Forumy’, shall be set up at the Commission. (1) SI (2000) 816 of 21.9.2000. (*) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 34 to 36 and Decision No 98/134/EC of 3 February 1998 appointing the members of that body, O] L 36, 10.2.1998, p. 14. 2. The Forum shall be made up of qualified individuals competent to consider matters relating to energy and transport as well as the interaction between these two policies. It shall include representatives of operators, manufacturers and managers of networks and infrastructures, transport users and energy consumers, trade unions, environmental protection and safety associations and the academic world. Atrticle 2 Mission 1.  The Commission can consult the Forum on any matter relating to EU energy and transport policy. 2. The Forum shall act as monitoring centre for energy and transport policy, particularly on competitiveness and structural adjustments in these sectors, while having due regard for envir- onmental, social and safety concerns. It will also be required, if necessary, to examine any matters of topical interest which may arise in the areas of energy and transport. 3. The Forum shall provide the Commission with opinions or reports at the request of the Commission or on its own initiative. The deliberations of the Forum shall not be subject to any vote. The Commission may set a deadline for the submis- sion of any opinion or report that it requests from the Forum. Atrticle 3 Composition, nomination 1. The Forum shall have 34 full members. 2. The distribution of members shall be as follows: — nine members representing operators (energy producers and land, sea and air freight carriers, manufacturing industry), — five members representing networks and infrastructures (gas, electricity, rail, road, ports, airports, air traffic control), — seven members representing users and consumers (trans- port users, energy consumers, demand management), — six members representing unions, — five members representing environmental organisations and organisations responsible for safety particularly in the field of transport, — two members from the academic world or from think tanks,