Every year European commission publishes a journal report on the and the activities of the European Union. On 15 March they published a 2016 edition. Please find more information here. It is well worth reading.
Monthly to Yearly Reports
Many years ago, the commission used to publish a monthly version of the general report. It was a useful journal of record to see what the European Union, and in particular the European commission, were doing. I remember reading them when I was doing my PhD (uncompleted) and a few years later drafting contributions for the activity report for DG environment. Unfortunately, for reasons I never fully understood, the monthly service was ended
Outline
The keywords throughout are investment, jobs, telecommunications, migration, defending and empowers at home and abroad.
The annual report is divided into 10 chapters:
chapter 1. A new boost for jobs, growth and investment
chapter 2. A connected digital single market
chapter 3. A resilient energy union with a forward-looking climate change policy
chapter 4. A deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base
Chapter 5. A deeper and fairer economic and monetary union
chapter 6. A reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the United States.
Chapter 7. An area of justice and fundamental rights based on mutual trust.
Chapter 8. Towards a new policy of migration.
Chapter 9 . A stronger global actor.
Chapter 10 a Union of Democratic change.
Highlights
This was the first year that the Parliament, Council, and Commission agreed on a joint legislative priorities. They signed a joint declaration on 13th December “on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2017” (see here).
Progress
Despite public concerns, unemployment has declined and growth has risen. Today, unemployment is lowest in the EU since 2009 and the Great Recession.
Energy, Energy, Energy
Chapter 3 is given over to the energy union – see pages 28 to 34. There can be no doubt as to the political direction of travel for the European union. Looking at page 29 it states “ the global transition to clean energy is ongoing and irreversible, and new European union wants not only to adapt, but to lead. It is its global responsibility.”
They see clean energy as historical inevitable. They note clean energy in 2015 attracted global investment of € 300 billion. They project 900,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. Let’s hope the central planners guess the future right (for once). Energy transitions have all taken a long time.
They want Europe to embrace “energy efficiency as the cheapest and cleanest is that which is not used at all.” We still need to get around to people turning off their unused appliances in the meantime.
All slow at sea?
Environment and Fisheries have been unified under one Commissioner. Some thought that this would be too much for one man to lead. They need not worry. This Commission is doing so little new on fisheries and the environment field, and in fisheries it is hardly keeping up with implementing the new CFP.
What about industry
With many countries embracing plans to help industry – like Trump and May – The discussion “ strengthening the EU’s industrial base” is bare in comparison.
As they state, it seems to cover 2 specific initiatives.
First, ‘a set of measures announced in April to support the links between national initiatives for the digitization of industry.
Second announcement in June of EU level smart specialisation platform for industrial modernisation. This assists cooperation between regions, clusters of companies, business networks and industrial partners.’
Better Regulation – the greatest achievement?
I think the greatest achievement of this Commission is that it has become serious about making better laws. There is a lot of work to do, but a huge amount has been done.
Two pages are given over to better regulation – see pages 90 to 91. In relation to the regulatory scrutiny Board, in notes that in 2016, it is reviewed and issued opinions on 60 impact assessment and seven evaluations.
Perhaps the most important thing that this commission has done as the new web presence and feedback mechanisms. Draft delegated in implementing acts were from June 2016 open public feedback for a period of four weeks. By the end of the year 106 draft delegated in implementing acts had been published.
Roadmaps or inception impact assessments for new initiatives, evaluations and legislative proposals have been open for stakeholder comments and contributions since July 2015. By the end of 2016 338 roadmaps and inception impact assessment be published for feedback. During the same period 147 legislative proposals were published for feedback.
There are some gaps. The application of impact assessment for actions on substances – whether under REACH or international conventions – is still variable and problematic.
Much work needs to be done with the Commission Services to remind that all Directorate-Generals fall under the rules.
Amnesia?
There is scant reference to the UK voting to leave the EU. It is like the EU of 28 has been airbrushed to an EU of 27.