European Energy Forum
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Contents
Background
The European Energy Forum says it provides “a place for debate where all categories of actors in the energy sector can meet, get informed and exchange views on the various energy issues”.[1]
But most of its members are MEPs and businesses. In addition to dinners, conferences and seminars, it regularly organises trips for interested MEPs to visit nuclear power plants. These are paid for by the nuclear companies. [2]
The "submarine" of the energy industry
A Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) report says that “Nuclear energy has been a major focus for the EEF and nuclear industry firms have organised and sponsored numerous EEF events.” It adds: “A confidential source who regularly attends their meetings confirmed that discussions which start at the EEF usually end up in Parliament”. The source calls EEF “the submarine of the energy industry.”[3]
Membership
The EFF offers two kinds of membership. Active members “are Members of the European Parliament who wish to be directly involved in the EEF’s activities”. [4] Associate members “are companies, research organizations, associations and regulators interested in energy-related problems and that want to be directly involved in the EEF's activities”. [5] Of the latter, the CEO report says “There are no consumer groups represented…instead the list is full of major energy industry players. [3]
MEPs
The following MEPs are on the EFF’s board of directors: [6]
- Giles Chichester, UK – President
- Alejo Vidal-Quadras, Spain – Treasurer
- Jerzy Buzek, Poland
- Norbert Glante, Germany
- Edit Herczog, Hungary
- Romana Jordan Cizelj, Slovenia
- Herbert Reul, Germany
- Paul Rübig, Austria
- Britta Thomsen, Denmark
Nuclear companies
Business members of EEF include Areva, E.on, EDF, FORATOM, RWE, Vattenfall and Westinghouse. [7]
Staff
The following people are on the EFF’s secretariat:
- Jean-Claude Charrault, Director General
- Pascale Verheust, Deputy Director General
- Samuele Furfari, Relations with the European Commission[8]
Funding
Most of the EEF’s funding comes from business. When asked by CEO about their funding "the Secretariat refused to answer but according to an informed source their annual budget is over a million euros".[3]
Notes
- ↑ Mission, European Energy Forum Website], undated, accessed 4 February 2013
- ↑ Corporate Europe Observatory, Nuclear Power Grab? Corporate Lobbyists and MEPs Working in Tandem to Spin Nuclear Energy as Sustainable, December 2006
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Corporate Europe Observatory, “Lobbying under the radar”, May 2011
- ↑ Active members, European Energy Forum Website], undated, accessed 4 February 2013
- ↑ Associate members, European Energy Forum Website], undated, accessed 4 February 2013
- ↑ Governance, European Energy Forum Website], undated, accessed 4 February 2013
- ↑ Associate members, European Energy Forum Website], undated, accessed 4 February 2013
- ↑ Secretariat, European Energy Forum Website], undated, accessed 4 February 2013
