Target group
Public officials preparing to assume EU responsibilities, EU affairs professionals, people needing quickly to acquire a comprehensive familiarity with how EU decisions are taken.
Description
This is a self-standing “immersion” seminar. It is also a suitable basis for participation in the specialised seminars offered by EIPA on particular aspects of EU decision-making.
The seminar first provides a framework for understanding EU decision-making. It briefly explains the treaty structure and the different kinds of competences which have been given to the EU. The different phases in the policy cycle are then addressed in detail, highlighting the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.
Learning Methodology
The elaboration of a Commission proposal is presented, with emphasis on public consultation and impact assessment. To understand legislative decision-making, participants simulate a Council Working Party, and discuss cases of interaction between Parliament and Council. Finally, the implementation phase is presented, with a review of the new system of “delegated acts” and “implementing acts”, and the role of EU Agencies.
Objectives
Participants will understand the principles and structures of the EU system and the basic competences and functioning of the EU institutions; they will be familiar with the different stages in the legislative cycle; and they will have an insight into how decisions are reached in practice.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Welcome and Introduction to the Seminar
Structures and Principles of EU Decision-Making
The seminar begins with a review of the main principles and structures of the EU system. An overall picture is provided of the Union’s institutional arrangements following the Lisbon Treaty, with emphasis on the new system of legally binding acts: legislative, delegated, implementing and other.
The Commission and Legislative Proposals
The seminar than looks in more detail at the start of the policy cycle. It explains how the Commission elaborates legislative proposals and outlines the role of expert groups, public consultations and impact assessments.
Decision-Making in the Council
The rest of the first day is devoted to decision-making in the Council framework. The internal structure and working methods of the Council are presented.
Introduction to the simulation exercise and distribution of materials
Lunch
Simulation of a Council Working Party Meeting
The participants now simulate a meeting of a Council Working Party in order to obtain a feeling for the dynamics of European negotiations, and the roles of the Council Presidency, the Council Secretariat and the Commission.
Council Decision-Making and National Policy Coordination
The concluding session focuses on the background to Council negotiations in the Member States, discussing the importance of policy coordination and inviting participants to reflect on the challenges posed in their own areas of work.
Reception
Friday 23 March 2012
The European Parliament and Legislative Procedures
The second day starts by looking at internal procedures within the other legislative body of the Union, the European Parliament. It demonstrates how legislative proposals are examined in the Parliamentary Committees and in the Plenary, using specific examples to illustrate the processes involved.
The Ordinary Legislative Procedure: Case Studies
The Ordinary Legislative Procedure, by which the Parliament and the Council have to agree on most legislative proposals, is then discussed. The possible stages of agreement are illustrated with examples, and the challenges of inter-institutional negotiations are highlighted through case studies.
Lunch
Delegated and Implementing Acts
This session analyses the new provisions for “delegated acts” and “implementing acts” which have been introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. It explains the various dispositions which have been adopted in order to put these into effect, particularly the Regulation on implementing acts and the Common Understanding on delegated acts, and highlights the various issues which arise as the institutions establish definitive understandings and practices for the new system.
The Role of EU Agencies
The final session looks at the various roles that are played by EU Agencies in the EU policy cycle, ranging from input into policy development and the elaboration of legislative proposals and delegated acts, to supporting the Commission and the Member States in ensuring good implementation of EU policies.
Evaluation and End of the Seminar
Programme
The programme will commence on Thursday at 08.45 and will finish on Friday at 16.00.
Seminar Venue
The seminar will take place in the Bordeaux Conference Room (1.16) of the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31 43 32 96 222, fax: +31 43 32 96 296.
Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation in French (please note that interpretation will be subject to a minimum number of participants requiring translation). Please indicate your language of preference on the registration form.
Seminar requirements
Participants should have at least a general familiarity with the EU institutions. A good command of English or French is essential.
Please note that these seminars in particular have a maximum number of 30 participants and are dynamic and diverse due to the large number of different nationalities. We would like to point out that the seminars are also an opportunity for networking purposes and exchange of experiences. Please note that in order to achieve the diversity of the group we can only accept a maximum of 3 persons coming from the same department.
Fee
The participation fee is € 825 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 1 reception and refreshments. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% of the registration fee. For details, please click here.
Hotel reservations
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make hotel reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We can make a reservation to the following hotel:
Hotel Beaumont**** (www.beaumont.nl ), at the rate of ± € 105 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.
Meals
Meals will be served at the Institute’s restaurant. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged.
Registration
Kindly complete the online registration form before the closing date.
Your name and address will be part of EIPA's database for our mailing purpose only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box in the registration form.
Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.
Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. For cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins, we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless a replacement participant is found.
Cancellation policy
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the seminar up to 2 weeks before the starting date. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, hotel, etc.). For EIPA's cancellation policy, please visit our website.
eipa.eu
Powered by