What is the HLG?
In February 2006 the European Commission established a High Level Group on competitiveness, energy and the environment to ensure integration between the three policy areas and to exploit fully the synergies between them.
It takes account not just of EU developments but also the wider international stage. Its objectives are to:
• foster closer coordination between policy and legislative initiatives and the development of an integrated approach,
• contribute to creating a more stable and predictable regulatory framework, and
• explore ways to unleash the growth potential of basic and intermediate product industries by further integrating competitiveness, energy and environmental policies.
The High Level Group adopted its first report on 2 June 2006: "Contributing to an integrated approach on competitiveness, energy and the environment policies - Functioning of the energy market, access to energy, energy efficiency and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme".
The second report was adopted on 30 October 2006: "Contributing to an integrated approach on competitiveness, energy and the environment policies - Long term energy futures and investment in power generation and energy efficiency".
Lord Mogg, chairman of Ofgem, President of CEER and Chairman of ERGEG attends the High Level Group.