Transcript NEW CHALLENGES for the EU

Jean Monnet Programme
The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence organises various conferences, public debates, Honours Classes and
Master Classes. Leiden University, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael and the
Hague University of Applied Sciences will be working together to draw attention to European integration. This
collaboration will take the shape of a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, which is recognised and partly
funded by the EU.
Support from Europe
Support for the Jean Monnet programme comes from the Lifelong Learning Programme. The European
Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme enables people at all stages of life to take part in stimulating
learning experiences, as well as to help develop the education and training sector across Europe. The Centre
of Excellence is part of the Jean Monnet Programme. This programme stimulates teaching, research and
reflection on European integration in higher education institutions worldwide. For more information, please
check the website of the European Commission
EU Research Network
The Jean Monnet Centre is planning different activities to increase knowledge
about Europe and start a dialogue about the whats and whys of the European
Union. In concrete terms this means that up to 31 August, 2013 there will be a
number of debates, a conference, a range of publications, two Honours Classes
and two Master’s Classes
THE EUROPEAN UNION:
SEEKING RESPONSES FOR
EMERGING CHALLENGES
First Annual Conference of European Union Researchers
Research related to European integration and the functioning of the EU, especially
emerging challenges and responses.
This conference aims to present research on key or emerging themes in European Integration and European
Union studies. This research is being conducted by researchers from different disciplines associated with the
Centre of Excellence institutions in the region of Leiden/The Hague. A very wide range of topics pertaining to
the (new) challenges the EU was faced and the responses the Union and its member states devised
to these challenges. The conference was also open to selected students as participants and attendants.
April 1st, Campus The Hague
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects
the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be
made of the information contained therein.
As global player, Europe has to satisfy values that can serve world-wide, further develop a strong economy,
further construct a solid foreign policy and a policy for security, equipped with instruments to prevent
conflicts.
Challenges however, are enormous.
To get the below mentioned words of Jean Monnet on coordination, we need knowledge of his biography,
and we may say from WW-I faced obstacles, search for cooperation and drive to establish alliances
triggered his text.
Three months ago, during ‘The State of the Union’, Herman van Rompuy advocated to build a viable
Europe’ through focussing not only on prompt priorities but also on an overall strategic direction for
European policy-making.
More (social and economical) cohesion and more governance is inextricably bound up with this and trust in
(democratic) institutions and in each other must be present.
It often looks that Europe, institutions and her citizens are separate entities, side by side operating. But all
perceiving and knowing that one is insufficient get used to each other strengths and goals and by which for
reasons there is not enough development of favoured synergy. The EU as supra-national body has to show
continuously initiative in order to gather up this.
For a (up)rise and preservation of our prosperity and well-being, a strong economy stays necessary. In the
present fluid era the EU, as cooperative effort of 27 nations, has to consider and has to be a pioneer
concerning implementation of the necessary conditions for that purpose.
Following naturally from the above, the presentation voices views on several possibilities and impossibilities
of implementation and coordination in the EU's multi-level system of governance. The content is not only
meant to challenge some statements, but also to call up ideas and views that can contribute to a stronger
and smarter governance of common policies in general and to economic governance in particular.
‘I had too often observed the limits of coordination.
It is a method which promotes discussion, but it
does not lead to a decision. It does not allow us to
transform the relations between human beings and
between countries when union is necessary. It is
the expression of the national power, as it is;
it cannot change it, it will never create unity’.
J. Monnet, Mémoires, Vol. I, 1976
‘Implementation and coordination in the
EU´s multi-level system of governance’
Economic governance: From intentions to results
Erik van der Kooij, FeelingEUROPE Foundation
Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, First Annual Conference of European Union Researchers
´The European Union: Seeking Responses for Emerging Challenges´
April 1, 2011
Economic governance:
From intentions to results
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Governance
Multi-level system of governance
Areas of governance
Implementation and Coordination
Conclusion
GOVERNANCE
Governance (to steer) is the exercise of political
authority and the use of institutional resources to
manage society’s problems and affairs (def. World Bank)
It demands consistent management, cohesive
policies, guidance and processes and decisionrights for a given area of responsibility
And is to be considered as true for all levels of
governance:
Multi-level system of governance
• EU (27 member states and the Lisbon
Treaty) and its institutions
• bilaterals
• national levels
• regional levels
• EMU (17 countries)
• ECB
• Business and Industry
AREAS of GOVERNANCE
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digital agenda
economy & finance
education
energy & climate
food & water
foreign & security policy
home affairs
innovation (patents & standards)
IMPLEMENTATION and
COORDINATION (1)
‘On economic policy coordination all member states policies
are a matter of common concern and are coordinated
within the Council’ (TFEU, part III, title VIII, chapter 1, art. 121)
Financial economic crisis started rethink of systems and
mechanisms and conducted new policies to put into effect
• Implementation -> executing the intention.
• Coordination -> aligning the necessary levels, in order
to achieve together the aimed effect and results of the new
policies
IMPLEMENTATION and
COORDINATION (2)
From the end of 2007 till now, the multi-level system(*)
delivered proposals, a Declaration,a Pact, reports,
minutes of meetings, and a package of measures
to implement and to coordinate an improved system
of economic and financial governance.
Complexity of issues and tenacity by national levels to
their interests in specific areas did contribute to the
time-exposure and final results.
(*) (heads of) governments, European Council, Council(s) of Ministers, European Commission, EP, ECB,
think tanks, business and industry
IMPLEMENTATION and
COORDINATION (3)
Experience has shown that intergovernmental
decision-making and peer pressure will not
suffice.
The best guarantee for a succesful
implementation and coordination would be semiautomatic rules under strong surveillance and
enforcement powers by the European
Commission.
(Source: CEPS Policy Brief ‘On the Task of the European Stability Mechanism’,
Micossi / Carmassi / Peire – March 2011)
CONCLUSION
It took more than 3 years to arrange common new policy.
Now, necessity of new policies is recognized. To achieve the
aimed results one should remind that:
• the critical aspect for success will be to implement
procedures equally apply to all member-states
• agreements, which are standing in the way, must be
revised
• it can also become thinkable to anchor qualified policies in
national laws
• presence of prudent supervision will complete the steering
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