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CoR wins Commission pledge to improve system for assessing impact of EU laws on local and regional authorities
26.04.2008, 11:42
The European Commission is to strengthen its procedure for assessing the impact of legislation on regional and local authorities. It is also taking action to strengthen the analysis of subsidiarity and proportionality issues in its impact assessments, according to its latest report in response to opinions adopted by the Committee of the Regions (CoR).
The measures are highlighted in the Commission's response to recommendations in the opinion by CoR President Luc Van den Brande on better lawmaking. The Commission report, presented by Vice-President Margot Wallström, states that it is also "carefully examining how it can better take account of the local and regional dimension in its ex ante [pre-legislative] consultations".
"This follow-up highlights our shared commitment to a multi-level governance approach. It shows that the Commission is listening to the Committee of the Regions and taking our views on board. The Commission's statements in relation to strengthening the analysis of expected impacts of EU laws will be music to the ears of local and regional authorities," said President Van den Brande.
The regular report by the Commission focuses on the follow-up to 18 opinions adopted by the CoR in June-October 2007. The opinions covered subjects including energy policy, research, postal service market opening, migration, enlargement, greenhouse gas emission allowance trading, restructuring, the demographic future of Europe, use of pesticides, airport charges, trans-European transport networks, reducing alcohol-related harm, cooperation with Ukraine, and soil protection.
The 60-page Commission report highlights numerous policy actions based on CoR proposals. They include:
- More flexibility in the Community postal services' directive, allowing Member States to postpone full market opening until 31 December 2012 where specific circumstances warrant a longer transition period (recommended in opinion by Elina Lehto, FI/PES)
- Support for setting up a branch of the FRONTEX border security agency for the EU's southern maritime borders (recommendation in opinion by Ian Micallef, MT/EPP)
- Support for involving local and regional authorities in discussions on the new enhanced agreement on cross-border and regional cooperation with Ukraine (recommendation in opinion by István Sertö-Radics, HU/ALDE)
- Planned communication on the mobility of researchers and code of practice on intellectual property (recommended in opinion on European Research Space by Michael Schroeren, DE/EPP)
- Support for the CoR's request to be involved in the drawing up of the new Interreg IV C and Urbact programmes (recommendation in regions for economic change opinion by Alvaro Ancisi, IT/EPP)
"We are seeing a new level of dialogue with the Commission, which is good for the CoR and the communities our members represent," said President Van den Brande, a Belgian senator and member of the Flanders Parliament. "The latest report from Vice-President Wallström demonstrates that the Commission is analysing the CoR's opinions very carefully and is responding to our recommendations in an open and transparent way."
Source: www.cor.eu