Brussels, 10/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - As reported in Europe of 9 September, p.12, the European Commission on Wednesday published a Communication jointly presented by Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio and Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin on actions towards the launch of a European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Partnership, steered by an Advisory Council, that will devise a Hydrogen Research Strategic Agenda. The Partnership will include all major hydrogen stakeholders, private and public, at EU level. The Commission will also fund hydrogen development and deployment research projects. It will foster joint public-private initiatives to promote commercialisation and business development. It will ensure a consistent policy framework, identify a realistic deployment strategy, boost international co-operation in this field, and promote education, training, information and dissemination of results in the hydrogen R&D area. The strategy is composed of a strategic research agenda; proposals for lighthouse demonstration and deployment projects; a policy framework that is coherent across transport, energy and environment to reward technologies that meet policy objectives; a deployment strategy, including a European hydrogen roadmap and advice on policy measures; public-private partnerships to promote commercialisation and business development, bringing together different industrial and financing organisations; a framework to develop international co-operation; a Europe-wide education and training programme, from schools to world-class research; and a communication and dissemination centre for all these initiatives. The partnership would be steered and monitored by an “advisory council” representing a balance of expert knowledge and stakeholder interests. The timetable, definition of the structure, terms of reference of the Advisory Council and invitations to join it should be available in October 2003.