Regional Experiences in Good Governance for Regulatory Practices: Slovenian Experience in Adapting to EU Framework

1. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)UNECE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON REGIONAL EXPERIENCES IN GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR REGULATORY PRACTICES • Experience of a candidate country adapting to EU framework • Dr. S. Presern, • Ministry of Economy, Slovenia • Geneva, Novenber 10, 2003

2. Mechanisms of technical regulation and relationship with trade • Technical regulation (transposition) • Standards (voluntary) • CE marking (manufacturer’s obligations, New Approach) • CAB (testing, certification) • Market Surveillance (proportionality principles) Slovenian experience

3. On government level • Political commitment needed; • Resources (financial) reflected in the budget; • A project of gigantic proportion (transposition of legislation is just one small part); • Most difficult: different thinking in all infrastructure and economy. There is no guidebook to follow – there are only experiences to learn from and find the own way.

4. Management of transposition and implementation • on government level • on ministerial level • on expert level Improve effectivenees Increase transpareny “Best Regulatory Practice” BRP

5. Stakeholders in technical legislation • Ministries (legislator) • Market surveillance (enforcement) • Quality infrastructure: • standardisation • accreditation • metrology • Conformity assessment bodies • Industry and trade • Consumers They have different needs and objectives Ministry has to “lead” and find a balance

6. Management of transposition and implementation on ministerial level • develop rules of procedures • involvement of all stakeholders • ensure or develop tools: • table of correspondence, • internet, ... • stick to the text of the directive (including annexes) as much as possible. Be proactive - do not wait for translations of directives!

7. Working groups - WG • Define objective: • Just transposition of the directive • Take other initiatives outside those WG (for instance national electrical safety board) • Participants should identify their benefits: • Participation of experts on voluntary basis • Industry and trade participates through chambers Solve conflict of interests early within the WG not later in the media or TV or even in referendum.

8. Ministry awareness campaigns • Get technical assistance: • learning by doing, • exchange of experience • sustainable projects • Information campaigns • guides, • leaflets, • training seminars, • Q&A • Develop a pool of experts

9. Standardisation • independent institution (new law) • 1st priority: adopt all harmonized EN • adopt EN and delete conflict standards • become member of CEN, CENELEC, ETSI • get information technology support Stimulate gradual self-finacning !

10. Accreditation • become a member of EA (European Accreditation) • Sign MLA (multilateral agreement) • get trained • get involved in EU co-ordination Accreditation is a service to industry (measure efficinecy and improve it)

11. Experience for industry • Implementation of technical legislation in companies • Several EU Phare projects (also for SME) • Partially performed by Slovenian experts (train the trainers) • Very practical questions solved (internal market) • extremely successful Industry is mostly prepared and ready !

12. Market surveillance • Starting point: trained in legislation and standards • go to the market together with MS inspectors in Slovenia and in Member States • identify potentially non-compliant products • share information (TRAPEX, ICSMS, e-mail and phone contacts with MS colleagues) Implement principle of proportionality in practice

13. Conformity assessment bodies • learn • study your market possibilities • define your area of activity • get accredited (cost benefit analysis) • develop market in voluntary areas (but be clear) • try to get co-finance in equipment (form a sink fund) • participate in EU coordination of NBs

14. Enlarge internal market before accession • Legislation harmonized and implemented • PECA in use from May 1, 2003 • LVD (electrical products) • EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) • Machinery • Gas Appliances • Slovenia has notified bodies in all sectors Benefit for Slovenia and Member States

15. Summary of Slovenian experience • commitment to be reflected in the budget • find priorities and stick to timetable • involve all stakeholders in Working Groups • use table of correspondence and other tools • lobby and make contacts with MS experts • follow and observe the Commission’s work • pay attention to terminology • provide a lot of training to all infrastructure • be proactive in proposals for technical assistance

16. Result in SloveniaEU Internal market for technical products • Transposition and implementation in 5 years, • No transitional periods, • Slovenia is within EU in PECA sectors, • Others sectors are ready, • All infrastructure is functioning good. We hope that our experience will assist others in finding their own best way !