We want forestry policy to be fully reviewed, and we would request an independent public inquiry with the power to examine the whole issue of forest management, working conditions in the forest and forestry processes, as well as the theories which determine how much cutting can be carried out.

Over the past 10 or 15 years, in fact since Quebec adopted its forestry policy in 1986, we have seen working conditions in the forest industry deteriorate, among other reasons because of the fact that fewer and fewer people are unionized.

8. The Council underlined the importance of the continued co-operation in the Energy Council Working Groups on Technology and Policy, in particular the work on smart grids including energy storage, materials including critical materials, nuclear fusion and hydrogen and fuel cells in the framework of the Technology Working Group and on energy efficiency, nuclear and offshore safety, and unconventional hydrocarbons in the Policy Working Group, as well as under international nuclear energy research initiatives.

create a working group dedicated to Integrated Maritime Policy in order to promote dialogue and cooperation with non-EU Mediterranean countries.

3. Recognising that, since 1992, the international forest policy dialogue has been facilitated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF), the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) and, since the creation of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) in 2000, by the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), which have made valuable contributions towards building consensus on a large number of elements of forest policy and SFM in particular, most notably through the IPF/IFF Proposals for Action and the inception of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF); also noting the contribution made to international forest policy b ...[+++]y other forest related processes and agreements;

This is one of the key points of an own-initiative opinion on the situation and problems of forestry in the European Union and the potential for developing forestry policies (rapporteur: Mr Kallio, Various Interests Group, Finland; co-rapporteur: Mr Wilms, Workers Group, Germany) which was adopted by the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) at its plenary session on 24 April.