Palič, Working on EU environmental decision-making processes: experiences from Slovenia for environmentally and socially responsible life Lidija Živčić, FOCUS, Slovenia

Palič, ► Experiences from accession process ► EU institutions and processes ► Advocacy at EU level ► Cases : EU energy policy and EU climate and energy package Content

Palič, ► NGOs were not a part of the negotiation team for environmental chapter, nor were the other key actors (e.g. municipalities) ► calls for being a part of the negotiation team were not responded by Slovene government ► success was to ‘squeal’ at an international meeting about the attitute of Slovene government: in 2 weeks the NGOs had a meeting with the minister of environment ► situation was similar in other accession countries, except in Poland they managed to postpone negotiations for a few months to be able to do things in a democratic manner ► Dutch minister of environment called for a meeting of CEE NGOs to find out about their opinion on the negotiated transition periods Experiences from accession (1)

Palič, ► Dutch minister of environment called for a meeting of CEE NGOs to find out about their opinion on the negotiated transition periods ► a small group of people had access to the talks: they kept their circle closed and eliminated the others ► all processes were done in a speedy manner – the speed ran over democratic approaches and newly aquired democracy was crushed ► the speed of the negotiations and accession was a sort of terminal blow for democracy in CEE countries – this can still be noted today ► Slovene NGOs got to know the EU legislation through projects, in which they acted as institution that informed about the EU legislation ► now we have more experience and capacity, at that time the NGOs were lost in the processes Experiences from accession (2)

Palič, ► European Council: sets general policy directions and priorities for the EU ► European Parliament: MEPs directly elected every 5 years, represents the people of EU ► Council of the European Union: meeting of national ministers to debate and – together with the Parliament – adopt EU regulations, represents the member states ► European Commission: commissioners and directorates (DGs), suggests regulations and monitors implementation, represents the interests of the EU ► Presidency of the Council of the EU : execution of the work plan of the EU Institutions of the EU (1)

Palič, European Parliament Court of Justice Court of Auditors Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions Council of Ministers (Council of the EU) European Commission European Investment BankEuropean Central Bank Agencies European Council (summit) Institutions of the EU (2)

Palič, Citizens, interest groups, experts: debates and consultations European Commission: formal proposal Parliament and Council: co-decision Commission and Court of Justice: monitoring of implementation National and local authorities: implementation Decision-making process in the EU

Palič, Građani, interesne grupe, stručnjaci: rasprava, konzultacije Europska komisija: formalni prijedlog Parlament i Vijeće: zajednička odluka Komisija i Court of Justice: monitoring izvođenja Nacionalne ili lokalne vlasti: implementacija Decision-making process in the EU consultation

Palič, Građani, interesne grupe, stručnjaci: rasprava, konzultacije Europska komisija: formalni prijedlog Parlament i Vijeće: zajednička odluka Komisija i Court of Justice: monitoring izvođenja Nacionalne ili lokalne vlasti: implementacija Decision-making process in the EU

Palič, ► decisions are made by the institutional triangle: Decision-making process in the EU European Commission (interest of the EU) Council (interest of the member states) European parliament (interest of the people)

Palič, Instruments instrument typeCharacteristicProcedure REGULATIONLaw Obligatory and directly valid Legislative DIRECTIVELaw Obligatory, selection of form and method by member state Legislative DECISIONLaw or not law Obligatory for the adressee ('sui generis‘) Legislative or comitology RECOMMENDATIONNot lawNot obligatoryNot legislative OPINIONNot lawNot obligatoryNot legislative

Palič, Advocacy at EU level ► work at home ► work at EU level ► networking with other actors (NGOs, interest groups, media...) ► don’t give up ► meet the people ► plan you actions

Palič, Case 1: Giant EU energy flag (1) ► FoE Europe and its local groups engaged in the Europe- wide campaign for sustainable energy in January 2007 ► ‘EU stars’ were signed by people from the individual member states by local FoE organisations prior to the Summit

Palič, Case 1: Giant EU energy flag (2) ► March 2007: finalising action plan Energy Policy for Europe ► action outside the summit venue in Brussels, where people from all over EU formed a Giant EU Energy Flag ► the European Council at this meeting adopted the famous EU 20/20/20 goals: 20% reduction of greenhouse gases, 20% increase in the share of renewables and 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020

Palič, Case 2: Climate and energy package ► creation of a position paper (our expectations) ► participation in the stakeholder consultation ► promoting position paper among decision-makers (we were even a part of some working groups) ► analysis of the proposed package ► regular communication and meetings with decision-makers to advocate our positions ► EU campaign to create pressure on the heads of the states ► briefings and meetings with MEPs ► communication with the permanent representatives and with national parliament (EU committee) ► regular media briefings (press conferences, individual meetings) ► analysis of the adopted package and media communication

Palič, Lidija Živčič tel: Focus, društvo za sonaraven razvoj Maurerjeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana office: Trubarjeva 50, 1000 Ljubljana Thanks!