Case Studies

Whither the Commission’s Rules of Procedure?

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It is useful to have rules and to follow them. The EU is a rules-based system. There is no shortage for them. The Commission has lots of them. They have hidden most of them out in plain sight. For example: President’s Political Guidelines – https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelines-next-commission_en.pdf Work Programme – https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/2019-commission-work-programme-key-documents_en Working Methods – https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/the_working_methods_of_the_european_commission_2014-2019_november2014_en.pdf Commission’s Rules of Procedure – https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:02000Q3614-20111116 … Read more

Better Regulation’s Enforcer – the RSB

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The incentives for politicians to follow the strictures of Better Regulation are low. They’ll always be lured away by the opportunities for quick and easy victories. There is little to no regard to second or third-order consequences. The prospect that a well-placed news piece leads to quickly drafted and often ill-thought-out legislation used to be … Read more

A primer – Inter-Service Group to Inter-service Consultation

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Inter-Service Group to Inter-service Consultation Inter-Service Group An impact assessment is required for Commission initiatives that are likely to have significant economic, environmental or social impacts. Work for major initiatives can begin once political validation by the First Vice President, Vice President, Commissioner and in close collaboration with the President. The political validation requirements are below: … Read more

The President’s storm troopers

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One of the least common questions I get is about the role of the Sec-Gen. Fortunately, most lobbyists ignore them, and focus on the Services, even when the issue is politically sensitive. I hope it remains the case. In their own words “The Secretariat-General is at the heart of the European Commission as an institution … Read more