29. 12. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 328/53 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 7 December 1993 on the setting-up of a general consultative forum on the environment (93/701/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Whereas in its resolution of 1 February 1993 on a Community programme of policy and action in relation "to the environment and sustainable development ('), the Council approved the approach and general strategy of the programme ‘Towards Sustainability’ presented by the Commission ; Whereas the programme provides for the setting-up of a general consultative forum bringing together representa- tives from the sectors of production, the business world, regional and local authorities, professional associations, unions and environmental protection and consumer orga- nizations ; Whereas the forum must be a place of consultation and dialogue between the representatives of the said sectors and the Commission ; Whereas the forum should contain a balanced number of representatives from the various sectors concerned; whereas its members should be appointed by the Commission in the light of recommendations from orga- nizations representing each sector concerned at Commu- nity level, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 1. A consultative committee on the environment, to be known as the general consultative forum on the environ- () OJ No C 138, 17. 5. 1993, p. 5. ment, hereinafter referred to as ‘the forum’, is hereby set up at the Commission. 2. The forum shall consist of figures from the sectors of production, the business world, regional and local authorities, professional associations, unions and environ- mental protection and consumer organizations. Article 2 1. The forum may be consulted by the Commission on any problem relating to the Community’s environment policy. 2. A vice-chairman of the forum may draw the Commission’s attention to the expediency of consulting the forum on a matter within the latter’s field of compe- tence on which no opinion has been requested. Article 3 The forum shall consis't of 32 members. Seats shall be allocated as follows : (a) seven to 12 seats for business figures; (b) three to five seats for representatives from regional and local authorities ; (c) four to seven seats for representatives from environ- mental protection and consumer organizations ; (d) one to three seats for union representatives ; (e) seven to 10 seats for figures with particular compe- tence in the environmental field. Article 4 Members of the forum shall be appointed by the Commission, which shall take account of the recommen- dations made to it by the parties referred to in Article 1 )