Transcript Document

EU Decision-Making Process
Maruxa Cardama
Principal European Officer
AER Summer School
28 August 2006
1
Structure of the Presentation
1. The Decision-Making Process in the EU
– The Impact of EU Decisions
– Supranational Governance
– EU Institutions
– Decision-making at EU Level
2. The South West of England and
SWUKBO
3. How Can Regions Influence the Process?
Examples from SWUKBO
2
The Decision-Making Process
in the European Union
3
The Impact of EU Decisions
• EU legislates in all areas of public policy: market, social policy,
environment, agriculture, regional policy,research & development, law
and order, citizenship,human rights, international trade, foreign policy,
defence,consumer affairs, transport, public health, education and culture
• EU sets over 80% of rules governing the production, distribution,
exchange of goods, services and capital
• About 300 of pieces of EU legislation every year - More than in
any other single set of policy institutions in the democratic world!
• Primacy over national law and direct effect
• Several Member States receive around 5% of their GDP from the
EU budget
• Powerful indirect effect on the distribution of resources between
individuals, groups and nations in the EU
4
Supranational Governance
The EU is a complex
institutional and policy environment
with different actors
5
The EU is a complex
institutional and policy environment…
• European Council (Summit): Sets guidelines and objectives. Adopts
final agreements. Reforms the Treaty
• European Commission: Right of initiative and delegated implementing
powers. Control over Member States’ implementation of EU legislation.
Control over Member States’ economic policy
• European Parliament: Represents citizens. General legislative powers
• Committee of the Regions and Economic and Social Committee:
Consultative bodies. Compulsory consultation for certain areas
• Council of the EU: Represents the Member States. General legislative
powers. Sets the political agenda with the Commission
• Court of Justice: Judges over the legality of acts
• European Central Bank: EU monetary policy
6
… with different actors
Other European Interests - Lobby Groups
• Regions and Cities: AER, CEMR, CPMR, Eurocities, and other
specialised organisations like EPRO (environment), ERRIN (research &
innovation), ISLENET (energy and environment), POLIS (transport),
REGLEG (legislative competences), etc.
• Business and Industries: UEAPME (Craft and SMEs), UNICE
(industrial and employers’ confederations) and many others in different
sectors
• European networks & associations in different sectors
• NGOs
… and a long etc.
7
Main EU Institutions
European
Investment
Bank (EIB)
European Central Bank
(ECB)
Court of
Auditors
European
Commission
(EC)
Lobbyist
s
European
Court of
Justice (ECJ)
EU Agencies
Directive
Regulation
Decision
Council of
Ministers
Committee of the Regions (CoR)
European
Parliament (EP)
Economic & Social Committee (EESC)
8
European Commission
25 Members of the Commission
Info and contacts
Cabinets
Directorate Generals and Services
9
EC College
(from 18 November 2004)
José Manuel BARROSO (P) - President
Margot WALLSTRÖM (S) - Institutional Relations & Communication Strategy, VP
Günter VERHEUGEN (D) - Enterprise & Industry, VP
Jacques BARROT (F) - Transport, VP
Siim KALLAS (EST) - Administrative Affairs, Audit & Anti-Fraud, VP
Franco FRATTINI (I) - Justice, Freedom & Security, VP
Viviane REDING (L) - Information Society & Media
Stavros DIMAS (GR) - Environment
Joaquin ALMUNIA (E) - Economic & Monetary Affairs
Danuta HÜBNER (PL) - Regional Policy
Joe BORG (MAL) - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (LIT) - Financial Programming and Budget
Janez POTOČNIK (SLV)- Science & Research
10
EC College
(from 18 November 2004)
Ján FIGEL (SLK) - Education, Training, Culture, & Multilinguism
Markos KYPRIANOU (CYP) - Health & Consumers Protection
Olli REHN (FI)- Enlargement
Louis MICHEL (B) - Development & Humanitarian Aid
László KOVÁCS (HU) - Taxation & Customs Union
Neelie KROES (NL) - Competition
Mariann FISCHER BOEL (DK) - Agriculture & Rural Development
Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (AU) - External Relations & European
Neighbourhood Policy
Charlie McCREEVY (IRE) - Internal Market & Services
Vladimir SPIDLA (CZ) - Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities
Peter MANDELSON (UK) - Trade
Andris PIEBALGS (LAT) - Energy
11
European Commission’s
main roles
• To propose legislation to the Parliament and the
Council: Initiative
• To administer and implement EU policies
• To enforce Community law (jointly with the Court of
Justice)
• To act as a mouthpiece for the EU and negotiate
international agreements, mainly those relating to trade
and cooperation
12
Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers
National Ministers in 9 configurations
Council General secretary + High Representative for
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Coreper I
Coreper II
Technical
Political
Deputy Permanent
Representatives
Permanent
Representatives
Merten
s Group
Antici
Group
Working Groups
Diplomats and Experts
European Council/Summit
Heads of State & Government
Presidency of the Council
6 month term
Permanent
Representations
to the EU
Info and contacts
13
Votes in the Council of Ministers
Nice Treaty
(to be replaced by “double majority” system under new EU Constitution)
Germany, France, Italy, UK
Spain, Poland
(Romania
24
21
15)
Netherlands
13
Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, (Bulgaria)
12
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Slovakia, Lithuania
9
Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia
Luxembourg, Cyprus
Malta
5
Total
345
7
6
14
European Parliament
EP President
Political Parties
Secretariat
Committees
Permanent and ad hoc
Secretariat
National
Delegations
MEPs
Info and contacts
15
Votes in the European Parliament
732 MEPs directly elected by EU citizens in June 2004
Members:
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Poland
Netherlands
Portugal
Belgium
Greece
Czech Rep.
Hungary
99
78
78
78
54
54
27
24
24
24
24
24
Sweden
Austria
Finland16
Denmark
Slovakia
Ireland
Lithuania
Latvia
Slovenia
Luxembourg
Estonia
Cyprus
Malta
19
18
Political Parties:
14
14
13
13
9
7
6
6
6
5
Conservatives 268
Socialists
200
Liberals
88
Greens
42
United left
41
Others
93
16
Consultative or Advisory Bodies
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• Represents the “organised civil society”: employers, trade
unions, farmers, consumers and the other interest groups
Committee of the Regions (CoR)
• Represents “the voice of the regions at the heart of the EU”
and it’s composed of elected representatives of regional and
local authorities
• Compulsory consultation before EU decisions are taken on
matters which concern local and regional government, such
as regional policy, the environment, education and transport
• But its opinion does not have to be taken on board
17
Committee of the Regions
CoR President
Bureau
CoR Secretary General
Commissions
Secretariat
Political Parties
Secretariat
National
Delegations
Info and contacts
Elected
Member
s
18
Decision-making at EU Level
• Involves various European institutions, in particular
– The European Commission (EC),
– The European Parliament (EP),
– The Council of the European Union
• In general Commission proposes new legislation, but Council and
Parliament pass the laws. Other institutions and bodies also have
roles to play (e.g. Committee of the Regions CoR)
• The rules of procedure are laid down in the Treaties: Every proposal
for a new European is based on a specific “legal basis” or article of
the Treaty, which determines the legislative procedure to be followed
• The three main procedures are “consultation”, “assent” and “codecision”
19
The Three Main EU Procedures
EU uses three main ways to take decisions, depending on the legal
basis for the decision
Co-decision was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty. requires two
readings by Parliament and Council, and conciliation if they can not
agree
Consultation: the opinion of the Parliament is sought and integrated
in Commission's proposal. If the Council decides to reject the
proposal it can then only be done by unanimity
Assent was introduced by the Single European Act and means that
the Council must obtain the European parliament's assent before
certain important decisions are taken. Parliament can accept or reject
a proposal, but can not amend it
20
Consultation
• EC submits a proposal to Council, which then consults EP, CoR
and EESC
• Parliament can: (i) approve the Commission proposal, (ii) reject
it (iii) or ask for amendments
• If Parliament asks for amendments, the Commission will
consider all the changes Parliament suggests. If it accepts any
of these suggestions it will send the Council an amended
proposal
• The Council examines the amended proposal and either adopts
it or amends it further.
• In this procedure, as in all others, if the Council amends a
Commission proposal it must do so unanimously
• Council can only reject the proposal by unanimity
• In certain areas, such as taxation, the Council’s decision must
be unanimous
21
Consultation
The areas subject to consultation are:
• Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
• Revision of the Treaties
• Discrimination based on gender, race or ethnic origin, religion,
political beliefs, handicap, age or sexual orientation
• European citizenship
• Agriculture
• Cohesion Policy: ERDF and ESF Regulations
• Legal immigration and free movement of people-connected
• Transport (when it may have a significant influence in certain
regions)
• Competition law
• Tax provisions
• Economic policy
22
Assent
• EC submits proposal to the Council, which can take
a decision only with the EP’s express assent
• EP can accept or reject a proposal, but can not
amend it
• Acceptance (“assent”) requires an absolute majority
of the vote cast
23
Assent
The areas subject to assent are:
• Specific tasks of the European Central Bank
• Amendment of the statutes of the European System
of Central Banks or the European Central Bank
• Financial Perspectives
• European Parliament’s uniform election procedure
• Certain international agreements
• Accession of new Member States
• Sanctions imposed on a Member State for a serious
and persistent breach of fundamental rights under the
Article 7 of the EU Treaty
24
Co-Decision
• Nowadays the most used procedure – Would be the
standard procedure under the Constitutional Treaty
• Council and Parliament on equal foot sharing the
legislative power equally with the Council. Both
Institutions carry out up to three readings
• If Council and Parliament cannot agree on a piece of
proposed legislation, it is put before a conciliation
committee
• Conciliation Committee composed of equal numbers
of Council and Parliament representatives
• Once this committee has reached an agreement, the
text is sent once again to Parliament and the Council
so that they can finally adopt it as law
25
Co-Decision
The areas subject to co-decision are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prevention of discrimination on the
grounds of nationality
Freedom of movement and
residency
Free movement of labour
Social security of migrant labour
Freedom of establishment
Transport
The internal market
Employment
Customs cooperation
Combating social exclusion
Equal opportunity and treatment
Education
Vocational training
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Implementation of decisions relating
to ESF
General Regulation for Cohesion
Policy
Culture
Health
Consumer protection
Trans-European networks
Execution of European Regional
Development Fund decisions
Research
The environment
Prevention and prosecution of fraud
Visas, asylum and illegal
immigration (1 April 2005 at the
latest)
26
Co-Decision Step by Step
1. Commission’s Proposal
• Monopoly of initiative in all co-decision areas
• Commission may also alter any proposal
• The legal basis adopted by the Commission will determine the
legislative procedure
• Result of an extensive consultation process: impact assessment, reports
by experts, consultation of national experts, international organisations and/or
NGOs, Green and White Papers, etc.
• Also Interservice Consultation amongst Commission departments
• Adoption by the College of Commissioners: (i) either written
procedure (no discussion) or (ii) an oral procedure (after
discussion)
• Publication in the EU Official Journal C Series
• The proposal is forwarded simultaneously to the EP, the Council,
the EESC and the CoR
27
Co-Decision Step by Step
2. EESC’s and CoR’s Opinions
• Must be consulted by the Commission and the Council where
the Treaty so provides or in cases in which the latter consider it
appropriate
• The Council or the Commission can set a time limit for the
submission of opinions
• The EP also has the option of consulting the two Committees
• In addition, the EESC and the CoR may issue opinions in cases
considered by them to be appropriate
28
Co-Decision Step by Step
3. EP’s First Reading
Article 251(2) EC Treaty
The EP delivers an opinion at first reading, which is prepared by a rapporteur,
discussed and amended within the relevant parliamentary committee and then
debated in plenary session and adopted by a simple majority
•
Report from the responsible Committee: rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs; exchange of
views and discussions; hearings with interest groups (e.g regions); amendments to the
Commission proposals; adoption of the report by simple majority
•
Parallel opinions from other committees
•
No legal time limit. Eight months on average or much longer!
•
Simplified fast-track procedures if no amendments by responsible committee
•
Adoption in plenary by a simple majority of the final votes cast: If report adopted in
committee virtually unanimously (with fewer than 10% of votes against), plenary may
adopt without further debate
•
If no simple majority final achieved the Commission is requested to withdraw its
proposal and thus the legislative procedure is stopped. If the Commission refuses
to withdraw its proposal, the matter is referred back to the parliamentary committee
•
Nothing prevents the EP from nullifying proposal through amendments: This will not
29
necessarily stop the legislative procedure!
Co-Decision Step by Step
4. Amended Commission proposal
• Commission can alter its legislative proposal, enabling it to
incorporate EP’s amendments which improve the initial proposal
and/or are likely to facilitate an agreement
• The amended proposal is prepared by the respective
Commission’s DG in charge of the dossier, on the basis of the
mandate obtained from the College
• The Legal Service and the Secretariat-General are consulted
• The amended proposal is adopted by the College and then
published in the Official Journal L series
30
Co-Decision Step by Step
5. Council’s First Reading
• Preparatory work within working parties towards Council’s position: National
experts + EU Presidency report to the Committee of Permanent Representatives
(Coreper I and II), which prepares every Council decision taken at Ministerial level
• Three options:
– The Council accepts without alteration the Commission’s proposal, which the EP
has not amended, and the act can be adopted;
– The Council accepts all the EP’s amendments which the Commission has
incorporated into its amended proposal, and the act can be adopted ;
– In all other cases, the Council adopts a common position
• Council’s common position:
– Preparation by Coreper
– Adoption of by the Council of Ministers either without debate, when an
agreement has been found at the preparatory stage (A item), or with debate (B
item) by a qualified majority with the agreement of the Commission
– But unanimity is required if its position differs from that of the Commission
31
Co-Decision Step by Step
5a. The EP has approved the proposal without
amendment and the Council does not wish to amend
If the EP has not adopted any amendments, and if the
Council does not wish to alter the Commission’s
proposal, the act is deemed to have been adopted and
it is then published in EU Official Journal L series
The procedure is ended!
32
Co-Decision Step by Step
5b. The Council approves all the EP amendments
If the Council approves the Commission’s proposal as amended by the
European Parliament by a qualified majority, the act is deemed to have
been adopted and it is then published in EU Official Journal L series
The procedure is ended!
• Adoption of all amendments by the Council by a qualified majority if
the Commission has incorporated them into its amended proposal, or
by unanimity if this has not been done
• Informal tripartite meetings between the EP (rapporteur and, where
appropriate, shadow rapporteurs), the Council (chair of the working
party and/or Coreper), and the Commission (responsible DG and
Secretariat-General)
• The Commission frequently plays a mediating and editing role in
respect of these compromise texts
33
Co-Decision Step by Step
6. Council’s Common Position and
EP’s Second Reading
In all other cases the Council adopts a Common
Position and the EP goes through a Second Reading
• Deadline: 3+1 months
• Council’s Common position referred to responsible Committee:
adoption first by Committee level and then by plenary by qualified
majority
• EP Committee adopts report on Common Position:
– Approval: Act is adopted
– Rejection: Act is deemed not to be adopted
– Amendments: to the Common Position  Second Reading by the
Council
34
Co-Decision Step by Step
7. Council’s Second Reading
• Deadline: 3+1 months
• EP’s Second Reading is deferred to the Council
• Examination by the Working group and Coreper
• Decision by a simple majority but unanimity is required if the
Commission expressed a negative opinion on the EP
amendments
• Two options:
– All EP amendments accepted: The act is adopted
– Not all amendments accepted: Convening of the
Conciliation Committee
35
Co-Decision Step by Step
8. The Conciliation Committee and the Joint Text
• Committee convened in 6+2 weeks by the EP and Council Presidents
• Informal preparatory phase
• Delegations:
– EP delegation decides by a simple majority
– Council delegation decides by a qualified majority
– The Commission takes part with a moderator role
– Unbalanced representation??: EP at political level Council at
technical level
• Two options:
– No agreement on a Joint Text: The act is not adopted
– Agreement on Joint text: Third Reading by EP and Council
36
Co-Decision Step by Step
9. Third Reading: Vote on the joint text
• Council decides by a qualified majority
• EP decides by a simple majority of the vote cast
• Two options:
– EP and Council adopt their positions in accordance to Joint
Text: The act is adopted and published in the EU Official
Journal L series
– EP and Council do not approve the Joint Text: The act is not
adopted but a new procedure can be put in place (Technical
and political decisions might not follow the same line!)
37
Co-decision Flow Chart
38
The Transposition and
Implementation of the Acts
• Directives have to be transposed in National legal systems but
there is room for the Member States to decide how  Second
phase for regions to lobby
• Regulations are directly adopted into national legal systems
• The implementation powers are delegated to the Commission
and comitology
• Commission monitors implementation by Member States and
can take them to the European Court of Justice in case of failure
of breach of their implementation obligations
• “Golplatting” by Member States is also bad transposition!
39
The Importance of Comitology
• Should not be underrated!
• It integrates the Member States into all decision making processes
independently of the level and the organ
• Main critic: It subverts the EU decision-making process
• But can also be justified for technical matters at implementation
stage
• Three types of committees - advisory, management and regulatory
committees – with different procedures and varying levels of legislative
control over the Commission. The type of committee assigned normally
depends on the policy area being regulated
• It is not possible to determine the exact number of EU committees as
many ad hoc committees distort statistics
• All in all some sources estimate the total number is more than a 6.000!
40
More information
• EU Decision
http://europa.eu/institutions/decisionmaking/index_en.htm
• Co-Decision website
http://ec.europa.eu/codecision/index_en.htm
• Co-Decision Diagram
http://ec.europa.eu/codecision/stepbystep/diagr
am_en.htm
41
The South West of England
Overview of SWUKBO
42
The South West of England
in Europe
43
The South West of England
44
Regional Profile
• Magnificent natural and built landscape
• Spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship
• Economy traditionally built on agriculture, tourism,
fishing, and defence
• Important urban centres and large industries
• Dynamic social economy, creating employment and
services and promoting social cohesion
45
Key Economic Sectors
• Advanced Engineering
(includes Aerospace)
• Food and drink
• ICT
• Leisure and tourism
• Marine
Emerging sectors
• Biotechnology
• Creative industries
• Environmental
technologies
46
The South West in Europe
• Population of 5 million - Compares to Catalonia in
Spain and Saxony in Germany
• Enlargement of the EU provides the potential to build
new partnerships and business opportunities
• EU works in partnership with South West to tackle
specific economic and social problems via Cohesion
Policy (worth €3.2 billion for 2000-2006)
• Common Agricultural Policy is also of immense
importance to the region’s rural economy (average
€420 m per annum in 2000-2006)
47
Overview of SWUKBO
48
The Brussels Office Partnership
• Established in April 2001 from the merger of
3 former offices
• Broad Partnership:
– South West Regional Development Agency
– Local authorities (all county and unitary)
– HERDA–SW (higher education)
– South Coast Metropole (Bournemouth/Poole)
– South West Regional Assembly
49
SWUKBO’s Mission
• To establish a regional partnership of relevant
stakeholders for the European agenda
• To help bring prosperity to the South West
– By ensuring strong regional representation and its
involvement in shaping policy at EU level
– By providing partners with the necessary
intelligence and channels to contribute to key EU
policies and programmes affecting regions
50
The SW Partnership
Management
Board
Steering the work of SWUKBO
SWUKBO
Steering Group
on Cohesion
coordinating all thematic groups
51
SWUKBO Resources
• Budget for 2005/2006: €600k/£390K approximately
• Team of six people
–
–
–
–
Director
Senior European Officer
Principal European Officer (1) and European Officers (x2)
Office Manager
• Secretariat (Somerset County Council – includes parttime UK coordinator)
52
Linking the Region on European Issues
National Interests
(UKREP, Whitehall)
Regional
interests
(South West
partnership)
South West UK
Brussels Office
European
Institutions
Other European interests
(regions, European networks,
business, NGOs etc)
53
Operational Framework
• Annual work programme:
– Concrete actions agreed with Partners on the basis of
their priorities & expected EU activities and then formally
approved by Management Board
• Monitoring/reporting cycle:
– Annual report & enquiries database
– Policy direction & strategic assessment by the
Management Board twice a year
– Independent review by DTZ (2001-2004): very positive
• Work within existing regional strategies & existing
regional frameworks/committees: providing EU
dimension
54
SW Preparations for Future European Structural Funds
SW Cohesion Steering Group
Purpose: To lead SW preparations for future
European Funding
Membership: Judith Reynolds (Chair)
Jackie Longworth (Deputy Chair)
Philip Johnson (GOSW)
Gil Streets (LGA)
SW Cohesion Support Group
Pam Lyne (CCC)
Secretariat:
SWRDA
Membership:
Philip Johnson, Elaine Markham (GOSW),
Shirley Woolner, Carys Sanders (SWRDA),
David Pattison (CCC),
Sue Smith (DCC),
Chris Elton (RA),
Jamshid Ahmadi (SCC
Eleni Marianou, SWUKBO
Partnership Groups & Working Streams
1. SWESA
2. CORE
3. Urban Advisory Group
4. Interreg Steering Group
5. Regional Environmental Network
6. South West Forum
7. Obj 1& 2 PMC
8. Regional Futures Group –
9. Obj 1 Executive Group
10. SWRDA
11. ICT
- Employment & Skills
- Rural Development
- Urban
- Interregional Co-operation
- Environment
- Social Inclusion
- Best Practice
- Regional Strategies
- Convergence
- Enterprise & Innovation
- Regional ICT Steering Group
55
Types of Support to Partners
Lobbying
- Participate in regional committees (e.g.
South West Cohesion Forum)
- Respond to consultations (e.g.
Environmental Thematic Strategies,
Biodiversity, Maritime policy)
- Lobby EU institutions on new proposals
(e.g. Cohesion policy, Rural Develop.)
Intelligence & advice
- “European Update” (every two weeks)
- Policy briefings (around 80 during 2005/06)
- Partners enquiries (around 515 2005/06)
- Input into partners/regional strategies
- Speakers in SW and European events
Profile
- Organise/support EU officials (including
Commissioners) visits to SW
- Organise/support partner visits to
Brussels
- Support participation of SW partners in
events in Brussels
- Promote SW experts (including
SWUKBO officers) to participate in EU
networks (e.g. CPMR, AER),
conferences, working groups
Projects
- Provide support to partners submitting
project proposals for EU funding
- Provide support to successful projects in
management/contractual issues
- Provide partner search facility
- Link partners into projects developed by EU
networks and other EU regions
56
Work Programme 2006: Three «P»s
Policy
Projects
Profiling
57
Three ‘P’s of 2006 Work Programme
• Policy Development (focus on key priorities)
- Cohesion/Structural Funds 2007-2013
- CAP, Rural Development and Fisheries
- Environment & Energy
- Transport & Maritime Affairs
- Lisbon Agenda
- State Aids & Public Procurement
• Project Development
- Range of funding programmes
• Profiling
- Profile of SW partnership in Brussels/EU
- Profile of SW partnership in the South West and the UK
58
Annual Report 2005-2006 Highlights
• Bristol Informal Council
• European Commissioners visits (Fischer Boel, Potocnik and Hübner)
• CUC exhibition in Brussels
• Seminar on EU Waste Policy and Legislation
• SWRDA RES consultation with Commission and SW MEPs
• ERN/Cross-RDA Lisbon Study & Event
• SWRDA participation in Commission’s Cohesion conference
• European Parliament fisheries visit to SW
• SW CoRE conference for DEFRA consultation
• UK Presidency English Regions event
• Christmas Card competition (SW Schools)
59
2006 Highlights
• RES launch in the SW and in Brussels – Commissioner Hübner
• RES key sectors within the Lisbon Agenda context (Synergies with
FP7 and CIP Programmes)
• Energy Commissioner visits Cornwall
• 2006 decisive for the Cohesion Policy allocations
• Cooperation strand of Cohesion policy
• State Aids as a cross cutting theme
• Rural development activities - Seminar within DEFRA consultation
• EU Maritime Policy - SW Conference with participation of
Commission and UK Minister and Regional position
• Environment and Energy (renewables and wave hub, climate
change, waste)
• Experts in Commission’s working group on adaptation to climate
change
60
• CUC participation in EU seminar in Brussels
Further Information
South West UK Brussels Office
86 avenue Michel Ange
B-1000 Brussels
Tel: 00 32 2 734 4110
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
www.southwestukbrusselsoffice.com
61
How Can Regions Influence
the EU Decision-Making Process?
62
Regions Influencing the
EU Decision-Making Process?
What
• Based on the knowledge of the structure, procedures,
and the decision-making processes at EU level
• Evidence-based lobbying
• Approximately 3.000 national or European groups and
more than 10.000 lobbyists, including regional
stakeholders, in Brussels
63
Regions Influencing the
EU Decision-Making Process?
Whom and How
• Formal lobbying focused on the EU Institutions and bodies:
– The Commission: Regional responses to public consultations
and regional expert participating in working groups
– The European Parliament: MEPs representing the Region
– The Council: National Permanent Representation to the EU
– The Committee of the Regions: Elected Members
• European networks and associations of Regional interests:
Networking between networks
• But also informal contacts!
64
Regions Influencing the
EU Decision-Making Process?
When and Where
• Before the legislative proceedings: Regional position
papers The importance of policy monitoring and
intelligence: Commission expert working groups
• During the legislative procedure: Council working
groups, EP Committees and Committee of the Regions
• After the legislative process during the implementation
phase: Comitology
65
Examples from SWUKBO
• The Role of the Regions in the Delivery of the Lisbon
Agenda: Position paper; Joint ERN/Cross RDAs Study and Event
• Financial Perspectives and Cohesion Policy 20072013: SW structures, UKREP, LGIB, ERBOs, senior Commission
officials, MEPs, CoR members, European networks and associations,
Commissioner’s visit to the SW
• EU Maritime Policy: Regional Position Paper, consultation and
SW Conference
• EU Waste Thematic Strategies: Seminar, MEPS, EPRO
• Informal Bristol Council on Sustainable Communities:
UKREP
66
Thanks for your attention
and interest!!
Any questions or comments?
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 00 32 2 734 4110
67