Survey shows known unknowns

June 2010 - Aidan Stradling writes:

We know that the changes in the Lisbon Treaty will affect our work, but we're not too sure how. A recent survey of participants prior to our seminar in Newcastle showed that for most people, the impact of those changes was either mixed or unknown.

Those taking part came from the public, private and voluntary sectors and academia. Over half thought the Treaty would impact their work in some way, while others had yet to find out. For most people, the impact would be medium or minimal.

Other findings showed that in North East England, we used EU laws and regulations in our work, but made little effort to influence future legislation. Around 70% of respondents worked with EU rules, while 39% had briefed or lobbied politicians or EU institutions. Some 57% had had no contact with our region's MEPs, rising to 82% who had no knowledge of or links with our Committee of the Regions members. International links were represented, as 36% had done some work with the region's diplomatic corps of Honorary Consuls.

To find out more about how to make the Lisbon Treaty changes work for you and for your organisation, contact us here or call 0789 506 6823.

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New landscape for European regions

April 2010: Aidan Stradling, Policy Angel Network consultant, writes

The advent of spring in Brussels has brought with it new blooms. While the European Parliament and Commission settle in their new membership and structures, the wind of change has blown a new raft of regional politicians in too. The EU's Committee of the Regions launched its new mandate in February 2010. Under the Lisbon Treaty, their term of office has risen from four to five years, and with it their confidence. It would be fair to say that the views of the Committee of the Regions have long been overlooked; indeed its very existence is a surprise to many. But the political leaders of regional governments from across the EU are keener than ever to have their voices heard. After all, it is they who will be implementing seventy per cent of the laws the EU passes.

In countries like the UK, regions have become less fashionable. The post-nuptial glow of the parliament and assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been replaced by a workaday resolve to get on with the job; in England, the failed attempts at regionalisation in recent years have heralded a new impetus for city regions. Elsewhere in Europe, the recession has focussed minds on national priorities.

In the past, the European Parliament and the Council have lent a cursory ear to advisory bodies; now, in the post-Lisbon landscape, both the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee have been given a louder voice.

Interested in working with our Policy Angel Network members? Call Aidan Stradling Consultancy on 0789 506 6823 (UK).

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Europe 2020 – a new strategy for European recovery is launched

March 2010: Glynis Whiting, Director of WhitingEaton Associates, Brussels, writes

With the new European Commission and European Parliament now in place for the next five years, Commission President Barroso has just set out his long-awaited vision for the next decade in “Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” (published 3 March 2010). Europe 2020

The strategy aims to address the long term global challenges posed by the current economic crisis across Europe. It has three interlinked priorities for the European economy:

Smart growth – based on knowledge and innovation

Sustainable growth – resource efficient, greener and more competitive

Inclusive growth – balancing aims for high employment with social cohesion across all of Europe

Unlike the Commission’s previous “Lisbon agenda” in 2000, which had the high ambition of making Europe “the most dynamic knowledge based economy in the world by 2010”, but lacked detail and arguably largely failed, this time there are limited targets for employment, R&D, climate change/energy, education and poverty reduction.

Initiatives cover support for access to finance, youth, high speed internet, the shift to a low carbon economy, business, skills, and tackling poverty. Barroso knows that only full commitment at the national level will get the strategy off the ground – and goodwill from national governments is very stretched by their pressing problems at home.

The first hurdle will be the European Council meeting later this month (March 2010), with final approval sought in June.

Is it important? Europe 2020 will set the scene for difficult debates over the next EU budget period after 2013. Who will be the winners and losers? We will be watching with interest – as will many regions across Europe.

Interested in working with our Policy Angel Network members? Call Aidan Stradling Consultancy on 0789 506 6823 (UK) or contact Glynis Whiting direct on +32 2 772 0305.

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