No L 292/34 Official Journal of the European Communities 15. 11. 96 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 8 November 1996 setting up an Energy Consultative Committee (96/642/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas the Commission White Paper An energy policy for the European Union (COM(95)682) of 13 December 1995 provides for the setting-up of an Energy Consulta- tive Committee; Whereas the Council Resolution of 7 May 1996 takes note with satisfaction of the wide and transparent consul- tations that have taken place with the organizations rep- resenting energy suppliers and consumers in the Com- munity on the basis of the Green Paper, and calls upon the Commission to continue that process of consultation in a Community energy policy framework; Whereas the national authorities and economic operators in the sector acknowledge the need for dialogue between tepresentatives of the energy sector and the Comission departments; Whereas through that dialogue, the Commission should be able to obtain, inter alia, pertinent advice about the objectives and the implementation of European energy policy; Whereas the RTD framework programme, based on the EC Treaty and the Euratom Treaty, covers technological development in the non-nuclear and nuclear energy sectors; Whereas an Energy Consultative Committee structured and organized in accordance with the Commission’s objectives should be set up; Whereas it is important for the Commission to consult a body representative of all energy sector players; Whereas the status of that Committee should be based on past experience, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 1.  An Energy Consultative Committee, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’, is hereby set up within the Commission. 2. The Committee shall consist of eminent persons representing energy producers, distributors, consumers and unions, and environmental protection associations. Article 2 Tasks 1. The Committee may be consulted by the Commis- sion on all problems related to Community energy policy. 2. The Committee shall issue opinions or submit reports to the Commission at the latter’s request or on its own initiative; the proceedings of the Committee are not subject to any vote. 3. When the Commission asks the Committee for an opinion or a report pursuant to paragraph 2 above, it may lay down the time limit within which the opinion is to be given or the report is to be submitted. Article 3 Composition 1. The Committee shall consist of 31 members. 2. Seats shall be allocated as follows: — 15 members representing the energy industry as a whole, — eight members representing energy consumers, — six members representing energy sector unions, — one member representing environmental protection organizations, — one representative of the Commission departments.