Website: High-level group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment

The High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and the Environment functioned during 2006 and 2007 as an advisory platform bringing together the Members of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry, Competition, Energy, and the Environment as well as all relevant stakeholders.

The mandate of the High Level Group (HLG) was to provide advice to policy makers at Community and national levels, industry and civil society organisations in the most appropriate format on issues where competitiveness, energy and environmental policies interrelate and impact on basic and intermediate product industries. The mandate was given for two years: it was not extended. The HLG was assisted in its debates and advice by a Sherpa sub-group, which processed, coordinated and integrated the work of ad hoc groups.

In this context, the Commission invited the High Level Group to give advice for action, in particular, in connection with the following issues:

+ the functioning of energy markets, particularly the electricity and gas markets;
+ climate change, particularly the emissions trading scheme, energy efficiency and renewables;
+ the implementation of the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste and related legislation;
+ the improvement of resource efficiency and the uptake of environmental and other innovative technologies;
+ the development and uptake of environmental and other innovative technologies;
+ concrete implementation of better regulation principles