Commission Decision of 8 November 2000 setting up an Enterprise Policy Group (notified under document number C(2000) 3089) (2000/690/EC)

Commission Decision

of 8 November 2000

setting up an Enterprise Policy Group

(notified under document number C(2000) 3089)

(2000/690/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Whereas:

(1) Article 157 of the Treaty establishing the European Community has assigned to the Community and the Member States the task of ensuring that the conditions required for the competitiveness of the Community's industry exist.

(2) On the grounds of rationalisation and in order to facilitate the integration of the Commission's work on good practice and coordination with the Member States, as stated in the Commission communication ‘challenges for enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy’(1), the Commission requires a body for reflection, debate and advice, consisting of high-level experts from the enterprise community and representatives of the Member States, entitled the ‘Enterprise policy group’ (EPG), in order to examine general enterprise policy issues and to assist the Commission in the identification and dissemination of good practice.

(3) In order to achieve greater transparency and efficiency in enterprise policy and to enable it to play a more strategic role in meeting challenges in the knowledge-driven economy, the EPG should comprise two sections, the first comprising representatives from the Member States, and the second comprising eminent persons, chosen by the Commission from a wide range of highly and appropriately qualified applicants, active in industry, services, the business community or in fields of activity linked to the development of innovation and the knowledge-driven economy.

(4) In order to allow adequate representation of the Directors-General of industry and of the national authorities responsible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it is appropriate that the Members States may appoint up to two representatives for the first section.

(5) The EPG should therefore be set up and its terms of reference and internal organisation should be defined.

(6) In order to guarantee an adequate representation of SMEs, a fixed allowance should be provided for those participating in the work of the EPG who are employed by an SME.

(7) The Committee on Commerce and Distribution and the Consultative Committee for Cooperatives, Mutual Societies, Associations and Foundations should be dissolved,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

(1)

COM (2000) 256 final, including Annex describing the best procedure