Enhancing European Governance: A Renewed Approach for Inclusion and Transparency

1. Introduction • Adoption of White Paper on European Governance, July 25, 2001 • Aim: To reform the way the European Union uses the powers given to it by its citizens. • Why? Because European citizens distrust institutions and politics and are apathetic towards them. • Fall of Santer Commission 1999 • Danish rejection of the Euro September 2000 • Irish rejection of the Nice Treaty, June 2001

2. The Commission Approach • The Commission aims to renew European governance, adhering to a number of principles: • Better involvement and more openness • Better policies, regulation and delivery • Global governance • Refocused policies and institutions

3. Better involvement and more openness (1) • Making the Union more open • Access to documents • Development of EU websites • Promotion of Member States of public debate on the EU

4. Better involvement and more openness (2) • Partnership with citizens at all levels through • Involvement in policy shaping (dialogue, cooperation with regional, local government) • Greater flexibility in implementing legislation (eg contracts between Commission, Member States, Local Authorities) • Overall policy coherence (Dialogue between Commission, Member States and regional authorities to ensure overall coherence of policies eg, energy, transport, environment).

5. Better involvement and more openness (3) • Involving civil society • Recognition of role of civil society • Economic and Social Committee to develop relationship between civil society and EU • Revision of role of Economic and Social Committee (eg earlier publication of opinions). • European Parliament and Council to review relationship with civil society, with a view to a general framework for consultation by 2004.

6. Better involvement and more openness (4) • More effective and transparent consultation in policy-making: • More involvement of national Parliaments • Important role of European Parliament – eg hearings • Code of conduct on consultation (before end of 2001) • Connecting with networks (for example, European Car Free Day): • Development of more systematic approach to connecting with networks by end of 2002. • Examine how these networks could be supported at EU level: proposals by end of 2003.

7. Better policies, regulation and delivery (1) • EU legislation is slow • compounded by excess detail, and, consequently, slow implementation (only 5 out of 83 internal market Directives had been transposed in 2000). • Confidence in Expert Advice • Commission to publish guidelines on collection and use of expert advice after June 2002.

8. Better policies, regulation and delivery (2) • Better and faster regulation • Better consultation can lead to quicker legislative processes. • Distinction between ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ implementing legislation. • Co-regulation, when suitable • Using the ‘open method of co-ordination’ • Establishing a stronger culture of evaluation and feedback • Encouragement of Council and European Parliament to stick to essential elements of legislation.

9. Better policies, regulation and delivery (3) • Better application of EU rules through regulatory agencies • Definition of criteria in 2002 for creation of new regulatory agencies. • Definition of Community supervisory responsibilities over these agencies

10. Better policies, regulation and delivery (4) • Better application at national level • Member States should improve understanding of legal order at national level. • Increased and more effective pursuit of infringements. • 2002 proposals on twinning arrangements with national administrations to share best practice. • 2002 decision on criteria used in prioritizing investigation of breaches. • Codification of current rules on complaints

11. Contribution to Global Governance • Globalisation and sustainable development mean: • The EU should be more accessible to governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in 3rd countries • Actions to include: • Improved dialogue with 3rd country actors in developing policy proposals. • Promoting new legislative approaches at international level to complement ‘hard’ international law. • Promote a discussion in2002 on how the EU can help reform of multilateral organization • Review the way the Union is represented internationally, with a view to the next IGC.

12. Refocused policies • EU needs long-term objectives • Actions will include: • The Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy will base priorities on a 2/3 year horizon. • The annual Commission State of the Union address and annual Report to the Spring European Council will focus on the realization of these policies. • The annual report on Subsidiarity and Proportionality will look at the use of these principles in realizing Community goals.

13. Refocused institutions • The Commission will refocus on its Treaty tasks: initiation, execution, guardian of the Treaties, international representation • The Council should improve co-ordination between its different functions • The European Council should adopt a more strategic focus • The European Parliament and national Parliaments should stimulate debate

14. Conclusions • The White Paper is based on 5 political principles: • Openness • Participation • Accountability • Effectiveness • Coherence • Consultation Deadline: March 31, 2002 • Commission to report on progress and conclusions of the consultation by the end of 2002