Transcript FIDIC 2007 - Sākumlapa

Consulting Industry in Baltic & Nordic Countries
Riga, 24 May 2013
The European Institutions and how to lobby them?
Jan Van der Putten, Secretary General, EFCA
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Introduction to EFCA
Four main institutions
The impact of EU law
Making EU law & Nuts and bolts
Pillars of EFCA’s work
EFCA’s approach
In conclusion
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1. Introduction
European Federation of
engineering Consultancy
Associations
• 25 professional
associations from 25
countries
• the industry employs
about 1 million staff
• generates more than
150 billion euro annual
turnover
1. Intro - WHAT EFCA STANDS FOR (2)
Mission
EFCA is the sole and representative federation promoting the European engineering
consulting industry to the European institutions
Goals
 EFCA aspires to positively influence EU legislation that impacts on engineering
consultancy
 EFCA promotes fair competition and transparent procurement rules
 EFCA is a business platform/network for member associations and European firms
Strategy
 support the EU institutions as an expert knowledge broker
 assist member associations in achieving common European goals
 communicate the views of engineering consultants externally to the European
institutions & lending agencies and internally to the national member associations
 establish alliances/partnerships with other interest groupings
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1. Intro - EFCA ORGANISATION (3)
General Assembly
 all powers for achieving the Federation’s aims
Board of Directors
 strategic planning (subject to power reserved to GA)
 general administration and management, including finance and
communications strategy
Committees & Working Parties
 analysis, elaboration and implementation of policies and action plans,
defined by the GA
Secretariat
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2. Four main institutions (1)
Council of Ministers
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Represents the Member States
Rotating Presidency (currently Ireland)
Meetings are attended by the national Ministers responsible for
the topic (foreign affairs, industry, transport, environment, etc.)
European Commission
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Headed
by
President
Barroso
&
26
Commissioners (are answerable to the Parliament)
Main executive body of the EU
- Proposing legislation & initiatives
- Ensuring that EU policies are properly implemented
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Operates via 36 Directorates-General and services
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2. Four main institutions (2)
European Parliament
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Is the elected body that represents EU citizens – 754 MEPs
Shares legislative and budgetary power with the Council
Exercises political supervision over the EU’s activities
Meets in Brussels & Strasbourg
Operates via 20 committees, plus political groups, that prepare
issues for the Plenary Sessions of Parliament
The European Court of Justice
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Located in Luxembourg
One judge from each Member State
An independent body
Role : to ensure that
- EU law is complied with
- Treaties are correctly interpreted & applied
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2. Four main institutions (3)
Other bodies:
• Court of Auditors (checks revenues, expenses, and the EU budget)
• European Economic & Social Committee (consultative body for Council &
Commission)
• Committee of the Regions (provides advice and issues opinions)
• The Ombudsman (investigates complaints of maladministration against any
of the EU institutions)
• European Investment Bank (provides loans and guarantees)
• European Central Bank (manages the Euro and the EU’s monetary policy)
• Community Agencies
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3. Impact EU law – national law
EU Laws
75 %
EU Origin
National Laws
25 %
National Origin
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4. Making EU law: Europe’s Institutional Triangle
Commission
Civil servants
Initiatives & policy application
Parliament
Council
State representatives
Political body
CO-DECISION
MEPs
Law, Budget & Control
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4. Nuts and bolts (2)
• Treaties
• Regulations
• Directives
• Decisions
• Recommendations
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5. PILLARS OF EFCA’S WORK
Committee
Committee
Internal Market
European External Aid
FIDIC – EFCA
FIDIC – EFCA
Committee
Liability
and Insurance
Committee
Sustainable
Development
Task Force
Working Group
Working Group
Advisory Group
Industrial & Private
Market
Standardisation
Barometer
Communication
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6. EFCA’S APPROACH
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
STRATEGY
+
RESULTS
NETWORKING
LOBBYING
COMMUNICATION
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7. IN CONCLUSION
 Be representative of your sector
 Know your files
 Act together at European and national level on single and
priority dossiers (relevant to business practice)
 Targeted communication: right message to right person at right
moment
 Communicate clearly, both in writing and orally
 Ad-hoc alliances to strengthen influence on common issues
 Act as a trusted adviser to the institutions
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Thank you for your attention