Belgium (Brussels Morning newspaper) An inquiry will reportedly take place into the European Commission’s creation of the EU Energy Platform Advisory Group.
The group was set up as part of the response to the energy crisis.
The case will, it is believed, investigate how the Commission decided on the composition of the Industry Advisory Group, and explore the choice to restrict group membership to companies.
The campaign group, Corporate Europe Observatory – CEO – says this “is at odds with Commission rules on balanced representation in expert groups.”
Launched in April 2022, the EU Energy Platform advised on many important energy crisis measures, including long-term oil and gas contracts and RepowerEU.
In a statement, CEO states that, “By granting the fossil fuel lobby a strong influence over Europe’s energy policies after the invasion of Ukraine, Corporate Europe Observatory believes the EU prolonged its dependency on fossil fuels at the expense of millions facing a growing cost of living crisis.”
CEO says it raised “concerns” about the Industry Advisory Group’s formation in October 2022 “due to the unduly influential position it gave fossil fuel company members to steer Europe’s energy crisis response.”
Comment came from Martha Myers, Climate researcher and campaigner, Corporate Europe Observatory.
She says: “It is excellent news that the European Ombudsman will investigate the creation of this fossil-fueled advisory group.
“At a time when the European Commission should have been holding oil and gas companies accountable for fueling and profiteering from the energy crisis, instead, this ‘expert’ group put them in the driving seat to lead the EU’s response.
“This represents a conflict of interest on a colossal scale. This group must be scrapped if we are to break Europe’s fossil fuel addiction, address energy poverty and limit further climate chaos,” she said. In early 2024, fossil fuels’ alleged “influence” will be investigated further during a parliament hearing coordinated by the petitions committee at the request of the Fossil Free Politics coalition.
