European Consultative Forum on the Environment
The General Consultative Forum on the Environment was set up in 1993 to advise the European Commission on the development of environmental policy, and to provide a bridge to different sectors of European society. In the first three years the Forum addressed a broad range of issues and produced a number of opinions and recommendations on a range of issues linked to the environment and sustainable development. The Decision setting up the Forum was amended in February 1997, widening its scope to cover sustainable development issues, increasing the membership and increasing its independence from the Commission. Following a plenary meeting in January 1998, the Forum has chosen five issues to look at in the coming months. These are: - Climate change post-Kyoto; - Trade and globalization; - Integration strategy statement for the Cardiff European Council in June 1998; - Policy implementation and governance; - Urban issues and spatial planning; - Impact of EU spending on sustainable development. The Forum plans to deliver several opinions and recommendations to the Commission in April 1998 on the following issues: agriculture and sustainability, environment and employment, and the environment in the context of EU enlargement. A range of information on the Forum, including a full list of members, its work programme, and reports published is now available on the EUROPA World Wide Web server.