The COMMON FORUM on Contaminated Land was initiated in Bonn1994,  as an informal group of those from national government and agencies in EU Member States who 
are involved with contaminated land and groundwater issues. In 1996 COMMON FORUM gained a more formal status as initiators of the EU funded CARACAS and CLARINET 
concerted action on risk assessment and management of contaminated land. COMMON FORUM was the core group of formal country representatives in these concerted 
actions, which introduced “Risk based land management” as a central concept in European contaminated land approaches.       
      
After the end of CLARINET, COMMON FORUM wanted to keep it’s central position in the soil protection and contaminated land discussion, and succeeded due to 
the enthusiasm of it’s members. COMMON FORUM is now recognised by the EC as an important “stakeholder network” in the development of a EU soil protection policy. 
It is also recognised by the industry lead contaminated land network NICOLE (Network of Industrially Contaminated Land in Europe) as representing the European 
regulatory and policymaking community.       
       
The general objectives of COMMON FORUM are to develop strategies for the management and treatment of contaminated sites and for land recycling with respect 
to “sustainable resource protection” for contaminated land and groundwater. COMMON FORUM holds regular meetings to discuss important and current issues 
in these fields.         
       
COMMON FORUM has adopted the following mission statement:        
• being a platform for exchange of knowledge and experiences,        
• establishing a discussion platform on policy, research, technical and managerial concepts of contaminated land,        
• being a platform for initiating and following-up of international projects among members,       
• offering an exchange of expertise to the European Commission and to European networks.