On 10 July 2018, the College of Commissioners had their first exchange of what should be in the Commission’s 2019 Work Programme. Titled ‘Preparation of the Commission Work Programme for 2019 and organisation of interinstitutional work’ (link), represents the last chance for any Commission department to get their new initiative considered to be in the Work Programme. If a proposal is not adopted, it will be waiting around until the next Commission takes office.
August is the most important month for key political decisions in Brussels. Most people are off on holiday. Yet, in the last 2 weeks of August, the Commission’s Work Programme is agreed.
It’s been like that every August under President Juncker. It’s been more or less the same for a long time. Most people regard August as the quiet month and go off on vacation. In reality, it’s when the most vital decisions are made.
The Commission is now working on the preparation of the Commission’s Work Programme for 2019. This work programme is likely going to be short. Only legislative proposals that can be adopted by April 2019 are going to be tabled. That means not many. The Commission has highlighted time and again the principle of ‘political discontinuity’. They are not going to put forward proposals or initiatives that bind the next Commission. The scarce resource of Parliamentary time is likely going to have to be set aside to deal with contingency measures to deal with Brexit.
This work programme will be published around the 3rdweek October 2017. President Juncker has made great play of his record of delivery on his Political Priorities. He has delivered. President Juncker has met his key targets: a lot less legislation and the Juncker Investment Plan. He may well have in mind some politically symbolic withdrawal proposals.
Any proposals are judged as against the ‘Political Guidelines’ (15 July 2014). These guidelines, drawn up the then Secretary-General, reflect a new ethos of a ‘political commission’, introducing tight political control on the Commission Services. The backlog of blocked initiatives that have not been ‘validated’ or ‘tabled in the Work Programme’ are a reflection of more effective political control.
None of this should be a surprise. The Commission makes great pride of it (link).
Timetable
Looking at the schedule of the of 2017 Work Programme, the following timetable can be expected:
- 10 July July: Initial discussion in College on ‘Preparation of the Commission Work Programme for 2019 and organisation of interinstitutional work’
- End of July: Firm initial list of proposals
- Mid-August: State of Union drafted
- End of August: College Discussion at Commission retreat
- 13th September: President Juncker State of Union (link)
- 24th October: adoption of the Commission work programme (link)
- 14th December: Joint Declaration on the Legislative Priorities (link) between the European Parliament, the Council and Commission
The package of submitted proposals is decided at the highest level (Director-Generals, Commissioners, Cabinets) and agreed to by 1stVice President Timmermans and President Juncker.
Proposals that are tabled can, if needed, by-pass the detailed Better Regulation framework.
The proposals are fine-tuned into a coherent package by an inner circle of staff reporting to the Secretary-General.
President Juncker will deliver his final State of the Union on 12 September 2018 (link).
For me, the core lesson is if we want to get what you want proposed, you have one time in the year. If you miss it, you need to wait another 12 months. You need to get the sequencing right. Too early or too late you won’t get what you want to be tabled. The new Commission won’t come forward with their Work Programme until around December 2019 (link).