Brussels, 27/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - Stakeholders of the automotives industry- consumer associations, car builders, fuel producers, the distribution and after-sales sectors, interest groups in the field of environmental or road safety, technical services, unions and European institutions- took part in an exchange of views in Brussels on Tuesday on the best possible regulatory framework for the European automotive sector. They also discussed the competitiveness of the building, distribution and after-sales sectors, and the environment and road safety. To allow interested parties to make their voices heard by the high-level CARS 21 group, which came into being last January (EUROPE 8866) and which has been tasked with making recommendations to improve the competitiveness of the European automotive industry on the world stage, the Commission launched a consultation of the parties last February via the Internet. The Commission will take account of the contributions from the various players and the results of Tuesday's debate when conducting its final assessment of the process. “The contributions the consultation and this debate will allow us to gather will play an essential part in creating a clear policy and a regulatory framework which can be followed by the automotive sector for years to come”, said Commissioner for Industry Günter Verheugen. It is worth noting that at its first meeting on 11 April (EUROPE 8925), CARS 21 decided to draw up a road map by the end of the year, listing measures to be adopted in the automotive sector over the next ten years. The objective is to create a stable regulatory environment and to define initiatives together with a timetable.