Energy – Transparency Centre of Knowledge (E-TRACK)Facilitating Public Participation in Energy Policy Implementation

 The 'Energy – Transparency Centre of Knowledge' (E-TRACK) is a joint initiative agreed between the EC’s Directorate General for Energy (DG ENER) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for the promotion and enhancement of public participation in the implementation of energy policies. It results from the recognition of the need to offer a reliable source of public information on matters relating to energy policy implementation. The objective of E-TRACK is to become a central point of reference for monitoring, disseminating and sharing information on good practices of public participation in energy policy implementation across the EU.

E-TRACK will be led by a Steering Group that will bring together representatives from the JRC and DG ENER (with the support of associated stakeholders). The Institute for Energy and Transport (IET) of the JRC provides the operational support and day-to-day management and infrastructure needed for the knowledge centre. E-TRACK will conduct several projects on transparency and public participation in multiple energy sources.

Each project will relate to a network of actors from civil society, national and sub-national authorities, pertinent international organizations, regulatory or supervisory bodies and industrial and commercial interests. Each Project Network will be formally represented by an Advisory Group, which will provide general guidance for the entire project. Projects' activities will include analyses, the development and tendering of specific studies, the organization of workshops, the coordination of contacts and the development and maintenance of IT tools.

The first project of E-TRACK addresses public participation in the field of Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) and constitutes a pilot project for the whole E-TRACK initiative. RWM is well suited as a pilot case, given the significant number of research projects available and the legally-binding requirements for transparency of the Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM on spent fuel and radioactive waste. In view of the Directive's obligation for Member States (MSs) to report on the implementation of public participation in their National Programmes for RWM, the EC considers it useful to provide steady and continuous support in the very near future.