POLICY-SHAPING AND EEA EFTA INFLUENCE. Brussels, 14 June 2007 by Ms. Ásta Magnúsdóttir and Mr. Gunnar Selvik

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1 POLICY-SHAPING AND EEA EFTA INFLUENCE Brussels, 14 June 2007 by Ms. Ásta Magnúsdóttir and Mr. Gunnar Selvik

2 Policy-shaping PART I THE EEA PRINCIPLES AND THE MAKING OF EEA LAW PART II INFLUENCING THE PROCESS

3 PART I THE EEA PRINCIPLES AND THE MAKING OF EEA LAW Ms. Asta Magnusdottir

4 The objectives of the EEA Agreement To promote continued and balanced strengthening of trade and economic relations between the Contracting Parties with equal conditions of competition, and the respect of the same rules, with a view to creating a homogeneous European Economic Area (Article 1 EEA) The European Economic Area is governed by common rules on the Internal market.

5 Homogeneity Main Agreement Provisions of the main text of the Agreement are formulated as closely as possible to the wording of the Treaty of Rome (TEC) Annexes to the Agreement EC and EEA rules are identical at entry into force of the Agreement EC and EEA rules develop in parallel thereafter

6 EEA EFTA participation in the preparation of new EU law New EU act Exchange of views in the EEA Standing Committee EEA EFTA Working Groups Informal meetings/ EEA EFTA Comments EEA EFTA representatives Processing of EU proposal Council EP/Council Commission EU Comitology Committees Commission proposal EEA EFTA experts European Economic Area Preparations for a new EU Act In EU expert committees

7 Decision taking in the EEA Implementation into the national legal order EEA Joint Committee Decision EEA Joint Committee Standing Committee European Union EFTA Subcommittees Formal Negotiations DG RELEX Working Groups draft Joint Committee Decision Informal Negotiations Commission Experts Assessment of need for technical or substantial adaptations Assessment of EEA relevance EFTA Working Groups New EU act

8 PARTICIPATION IN EU COMMITTEES The Commission seeks advice from EEA EFTA experts in the same way as it consults experts from the EU Member States. EXPERT COMMITTEES: Advise the Commission and assist it with drafting new EU rules which will later be adopted by the Council. (Article 99) COMITOLOGY COMMITTEES: Assist the Commission in drafting and adopting legislation which the Council has delegated authority to the Commission to legislate (assist the Commission in its executive powers). (Article 100)

9 PART II INFLUENCING THE PROCESS Mr. Gunnar Selvik Director of Goods Division

10 Increased focus on how to influence from EFTA EEA? Government White Paper (St.meld.nr.23, Norway) Participation in committees and expert groups is important to forward substance views at an early stage Foreign Policy Com. Comments (Innst.S.nr.115, Norway) The Storting to a larger degree ensure involvement of the permanent committees in EU-questions Recent Icelandic report ( Committee on Europe ) Must strengthen Iceland s co-operation with the EU in a number of fields Participation in committees and working groups allow Iceland to influence policy-making and the drafting of new legislation BUT Iceland has not been very active in taking advantage of this

11 DECISION SHAPING EXPERT COMMITTEES COMITOLOGY COMMITTEES EFTA COMMENTS SOCIAL PARTNERS GREEN PAPER COMMISSION PROPOSAL WHITE PAPER NGOs EP MS EEA DECISION- TAKING ACQUIS ADOPTED BY EU COMMISSION, EU COUNCIL AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT EFTA WORKING GROUP SUB- COMMITTEE EFTA STANDING COMMITTEE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION EEA JOINT COMMITTEE DECISION IMPLEMENTATION ICELAND IMPLEMENTATION NORWAY IMPLEMENTATION LIECHTENSTEIN

12 Participation - principles Participation in the work of the Commission NO participation in the Council NO participation in the European Parliament, but we have the EEA JPC NO participation in ECOSOC, but we have the EEA Consultancy Committee NO participation in Committee of the Regions

13 How to influence? Identify initiatives to new legislation as early as possible Identify early the consequences for us - contact with stakeholders/others What do we want - what can we do to make it happen? (strategy) Good knowledge of the EEA Agreement and EU s legislative processes possibilities/limitations Send EEA EFTA comments to Commission/Parliament

14 The importance of active participation In practice no difference between an EEA EFTA state and an EU state in the Commission s working structure Can influence through quality and active participation Don t underestimate the effect of being continuously present in Brussels Are the possibilities used fully? Do the participants have management backing?

15 How to influence the Council and EP EEA EFTA comments EFTA missions to the EU EFTA Secretariat Contact with EU member states and EU presidency Regional contacts (for instance Nordic network)

16 Examples of active EEA EFTA participation - 1 REACH Regulation (chemicals) Numerous written EEA EFTA input Several high level meetings EEA EFTA MS EU-institutions Active EEA EFTA participation at expert level Future maritime policy (all-embracing) Bilateral- and regional written input, seminars/conferences Active participation in task force/wgs on national/reg. level Television Without Frontiers Directive (program broadcasted from another MS be received freely on their territory) 4 EEA EFTA comments from Prevent broadcasters from establishing in another MS to circumvent stricter national rules of a Member State

17 Examples of active EEA EFTA participation - 2 Pharmaceutical Forum (EU policy initiative) EFTA 4 participate in WGs EFTA SG conveys EFTA-views in bi-annual Forum meetings Goods package (princ.of mutual recognition, market surv ) EFTA participated in EC preparatory work ( SOGS ) 2 EEA EFTA comments in 2006 EFTA follows current decision process in Council and EP EFTA TBT Com. monitors need for further written input EFTA study on marks (interests/mechanisms that determine supply/demand of quality marks at national level) EFTA-initiated, with EC as part of the reference group Pre-pre-pipeline Policy recommendation

18 Concluding points for effective influence Establish internal EEA strategies Build up EEA competence Follow new legislation at as an early stage as possible Prepare well before meetings write reports afterwards Give the EEA work priority a management responsibility Use the EFTA Secretariat as a facilitator The EEA Agreement is a viable tool for EFTA If we fully utilise our rights in the EEA Agreement If we are proactive in the legislative processes already at an early stage

19 Where to find relevant information Eur-lex legislation in preparation/- in progress: Commission pressroom: Scad-plus: Background information: The EFTA Secretariat is here to provide services to our member states! And remember: Effective EEA work starts at home!