He succeeds Olivier Appert. Dr. van Hulst, a Dutch national, is the former director-general for competition and energy at the Dutch economy ministry.

The Office of Long-Term Co-operation and Policy Analysis at the IEA, a sister organisation of the OECD, conducts policy analysis of coal, gas and electricity, including nuclear and renewables in the context of energy market developments, and monitors key policy issues raised by regulatory reform and market liberalisation.

It reports on the energy policies of member countries and carries out analysis to assist in the integration of environmental and energy policies. The Office is also responsible for the influential World Energy Outlook, published annually.

©OECD Observer No 239, September 2003