Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09

1. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and enforcement of the environmental acquis at national level and coordination of the other 8 regional twinning projects Training EU accession and membership Veronika Hunt Šafránková European Union Department

2. EU co-ordination mechanism • Daily work after the EU accession • Participation in EU institutions • Negotiating EU legislation – Case stuy „REACH“ • Breaching EC legislation – infringement procedure Main objectives:

3. 1. EU co-ordination mechanism

4. Centralised • Formal • Strict hierarchy • Regular high level meetings to approve positions • Key coordination role of EU Department • Mainly in new MSs • Decentralized • Less formal • No regular meetings, positions approved by decision-makers by correspondence • EU dep. cooridnatates but responsibility more on policy level (e.g. „policy lead“ in UK) • Mainly in old MSs Most common EU coordination mechanisms

5. Changes on the national level • Establishment of the national co-ordination mechanism in May 2003 • Main Co-ordinator: Ministry for Foreign Affairs • Notification of transposition – Cabinet Office • EU Committee established – level of the deputy ministers • Establishment of the office of the government assignee for representing the CR at the ECJ Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination

6. Changes at MoE • Transformation of European Integration Department into EU Department – redefining tasks • Establishment of Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Group (ImCG) • Introducing „new way“ of work – quick and operative decisions, legitimacy of ImCG, accepting EU issues as part of the every-day life Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination

7. Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Group (ImCG) • Regular weekly meeting (Monday afternoon) • Members: Directors of relevant expert departments and representatives from other ministries • Responsible: approval of all positions in the field of environment (Working Parties of EU Council, COREPER, EU Council) • In urgent cases approval „per rollam“ Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination

8. EU Committee • Regular weekly meeting (Tuesday afternoon) • Members: Deputy Ministers (Executive Chairman – Minister of Foreign Affairs) • Responsible: Co-ordination of positions of all ministries approval of positions (COREPER, EU Council); debates on strategic issues Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination

9. EU decision-making system in the CR

10. April 2003 – Government Resolution on Institutional Arrangements at the national level (i.e. establishment and statute of EU Committee) • April 2003 – Order of the Minister on the institutional changes within MoE (i.e. establishment of ImCG) • April 2004 – Strategy of the CR in the framework of the EU • June 2004 – „Cookbook: How to operate in Brussels“ • June 2004 – MoE: Methodology for Impact Assessment • Each EU Presidency – MoE: Guide to the …. Presidency Documentation

11. Formal and not very flexible system but provides stable ground for decision-making • ImCG – good place to discuss things • Time consuming – internal, external meetings • Human capacity – meetings, documents • Time pressure – programmes of meetings and documents not in time • Impact analysis – extremely useful tool • Important to have a good attaché in Permanent Representation in Bxls Lessons learnt

12. 2. Daily work after the EU accession

13. 1.EU Department (12/6)

14. Co-ordination of EU Affairs • Secretariat to the Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Group • Co-ordination of positions in WP, COREPER, EU Council • Communication with the European Commission (incl. coordination of expert groups of EC) • Co-operation with Czech Parliament (both chambers) • Co-operation with European Parliament • Participation in preparation of Impact Assessments (RIA) • Consultation with Regional Authorities • Consultation with stakeholders (Consultation Forum – 2x year) • Briefing for Embassies in Prague • Monitoring of infringements and ECJ decisions • Preparations of positions for other meetings – EPRG, EEA, IMPEL, etc. • Negotiations and co-operation with other MSs • Monitoring of transposition and implementation of EC legislation 1.EU Department

15. Legislative department • Transposition of EC legislation • Notification of transposition to the Cabinet Office • In the team of the government assignee for representing the CR at the EC • Assistant to the Director General, Directorate of Strategies and Legislation • Co-ordination of infringement procedure • Department of Economics • RIA 2.Other departments in EU issues

16. 3.Technical (expert) departments EU issues Domestic issues Every day work

17. Language issue • Experts to be involved right in the beginning of the process • Encourage experts to have links with experts from other MSs • EU Department to exchange info with other MSs • Consultation with stakeholders • Find capacity for strategic issues • Not divide domestic and EU issues • Sources of information Lessons learnt

18. Programme of the Presidency (Council Programme) • http://www.eu2006.fi • Work plan of the EC, other strategic documents of EC • http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm • Council • http://www.consilium.eu.int • Other tips: • Council Guide • Issue Tracker • Sources of the PermRep Sources of information

19. 3. Participation in EU institutions

20. European Commission • Expert Groups of the EC – irregular • EU Council • Working Party of the EU Council – monthly plan (3-5x week) • COREPER – Ambassador/Deputy Ambassador (2x week) • EU Council – Minister (4x formal, 2x informal) Main meetings in the EU

21. EC – DG ENV EU Council Expert Group Expert Working Group PermRep/expert COREPER PermRep EU Council minister PermRep PermRep PermRep EU Com EU Com ImCG ImCG ImCG ImCG Expert Expert Expert Expert

22. Framework position (on request from the Parliament) • Description • Position of the CR • Impact on national legislation • Impact on state budget • Other impacts (environmental, health, economical, social) • Position of EC, EP and other MSs • Procedure issues Types of Positions

23. Instructions (Working Party of EU Council, COREPER) • Basic data – Name, No. of document, etc. • Proposal for speech • In the case of speech – reasoning • Description of the issue • Position of the CR • Position of MS, EP, EC Types of Positions

24. Mandate (EU Council) • Basic data – Name, No. of document, etc. • Proposal for speech • Description of the issue (incl. process of negotiations in WP and COREPER) • Position of the CR • Position of MS, EP, EC Types of Positions

25. MoE provides info about positions on EU Council • Ad hoc consultations • Seminars for MEPs on specific issues (e.g. REACH) Co-operation with European Parliament

26. Lack of capacity • Time pressure – programme and documents are received late • Lack of time for detailed analysis • Instructions missed specific arguments • Lack of links with other MS Problems after the accession

27. ImCG – guests from other institutions, associations, etc. • Consultation Forum – broad audience (incl. NGOs,regions,associations, etc.) – 2x year • Guide to the … Presidency of the EU – 2x year • Monthly information on latest developments in Czech for regions, etc. • Internet – regular update • Briefings for Embassies – 2 year • Publications of MoE – Planeta, Zpravodaj, etc. Information to stakeholders

28. Thank you for your attention!