Brussels, 25/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - After a debate that lasted all morning and went on into early-afternoon, on Wednesday, the European Commission adopted its White Paper on Governance that sets out the changes that, in its opinion, are needed to the way the Union is run, in the aim, notably, of bridging the gap that has formed between the Union and its citizens. The measures envisaged come within the framework of the current treaty, as the Commission believes that they need implementing rapidly, without waiting for the further reform of the Treaty. The debates within the Commission were essentially on two aspects: relations with the regions and relations with NGOs (non-governmental organisations). The Commissioners altered part of the draft submitted to them, so as to point out with utmost precision and vigour that the Commission does not intend in any way to alter the balance of powers nor tinker with the prerogatives of States: the closer relations that the Commission intends forging with regional and local authorities and with representatives of civil society concern contacts and "early consultations", and not the deliberative phase nor decision-taking. When presenting the Paper to the press, President Romano Prodi stressed that what occurred within States did not concern the Commission; should a State intend to transfer greater powers to its regions, the Commission should not interfere. Mr. Prodi also said that the Commission had rid the Paper of any distinction between "constitutional regions" and other ones, as that was an internal affair of State.
In his presentation, Prodi stressed a paradox: citizens expect Europe to act more forcefully and have more presence, yet at the same time they express distrust of the Institutions. The fact of improving governance (i.e., how to conduct Community affairs) has as goal remedying this situation. Seven initiatives are planned:
1) structure the relationship between civil society, through a "code of conduct";
2) make better use of the powers and practical experience of regional and local actors, through more systematic dialogue with regions and cities, at an early stage of decision-making;
3) clarify and render transparent the use of experts, so as to bolster public confidence in the way in which the political authorities come to their decisions. Today, there are some 700 committee of experts, the President stressed, and their work is not transparent enough;
4) better define and regulate common EU policies and simplify legislation. The acquis communautaire today comprises 80,000 pages. Prodi intends drastically reducing this number;
5) when possible, using non-legislative mechanisms and self-regulation and hand over certain regulatory tasks to autonomous specialised agencies;
6) define more clearly the tasks and responsibilities of the Council, European Parliament and the Commission. The first two should define the political guidelines and contents of legislation, and the Commission should have greater autonomy in management (it being understood that States may confer on local and regional authorities the implementation of certain texts). The Commission should at the same time use its right of initiative in a more targeted fashion;
7) adapt the workings of the Council, especially its role of co-ordinator, aimed at ensuring the coherence of the activities of the different "formations". Mr. Prodi placed emphasis on the fact that the Commission was simply citing that goal, but that it was up to the Council itself to implement it.
The Commission will now engage in a consultative process on its White Paper that will last until March 2002, and by the end of the same year draw up a report on the outcome of that consultation and on measures it will meanwhile have taken. As for institutional reform and the debate on the future of Europe, the Commission will draw up another paper that will set out its views on the political goals of the EU and on the institutional framework to achieve them. This will be its contribution to preparing for the Laeken Summit.