1. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and enforcement of the environmental acquis at national level and coordination of the other 8 regional twinning projects Training EU accession and membership Veronika Hunt Šafránková European Union Department

2. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Main objectives: 1.EU co-ordination mechanism 2.Daily work after the EU accession 3.Participation in EU institutions 4.Negotiating EU legislation – Case stuy „REACH“ 5.Breaching EC legislation – infringement procedure

3. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 1. EU co-ordination mechanism

4. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Most common EU coordination mechanisms  Centralised Formal Strict hierarchy Regular high level meetings to approve positions Key coordination role of EU Department Mainly in new MSs  Decentralized Less formal No regular meetings, positions approved by decision-makers by correspondence EU dep. cooridnatates but responsibility more on policy level (e.g. „policy lead“ in UK) Mainly in old MSs

5. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination Changes on the national level -Establishment of the national co-ordination mechanism in May 2003 -Main Co-ordinator: Ministry for Foreign Affairs -Notification of transposition – Cabinet Office -EU Committee established – level of the deputy ministers -Establishment of the office of the government assignee for representing the CR at the ECJ

6. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination Changes at MoE -Transformation of European Integration Department into EU Department – redefining tasks -Establishment of Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Group (ImCG) -Introducing „new way“ of work – quick and operative decisions, legitimacy of ImCG, accepting EU issues as part of the every-day life

7. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Group (ImCG)  Regular weekly meeting (Monday afternoon)  Members: Directors of relevant expert departments and representatives from other ministries  Responsible: approval of all positions in the field of environment (Working Parties of EU Council, COREPER, EU Council)  In urgent cases approval „per rollam“ Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination

8. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 EU Committee  Regular weekly meeting (Tuesday afternoon)  Members: Deputy Ministers (Executive Chairman – Minister of Foreign Affairs)  Responsible: Co-ordination of positions of all ministries approval of positions (COREPER, EU Council); debates on strategic issues Setting up the Czech system of EU co-ordination

9. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Government EU Committee Inter-min. Co- ordination Group EU decision-making system in the CR

10. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Documentation  April 2003 – Government Resolution on Institutional Arrangements at the national level (i.e. establishment and statute of EU Committee)  April 2003 – Order of the Minister on the institutional changes within MoE (i.e. establishment of ImCG)  April 2004 – Strategy of the CR in the framework of the EU  June 2004 – „Cookbook: How to operate in Brussels“  June 2004 – MoE: Methodology for Impact Assessment  Each EU Presidency – MoE: Guide to the …. Presidency

11. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Lessons learnt  Formal and not very flexible system but provides stable ground for decision-making  ImCG – good place to discuss things  Time consuming – internal, external meetings  Human capacity – meetings, documents  Time pressure – programmes of meetings and documents not in time  Impact analysis – extremely useful tool  Important to have a good attaché in Permanent Representation in Bxls

12. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 2. Daily work after the EU accession

13. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 1.EU Department (12/6) Deputy Director WP of EU Council, GMOs, INSPIRE Desk officer European Council, ECJ, Fin.Perspective, fin.tools, IPPC, ETAP, transport

14. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 1.EU Department Co-ordination of EU Affairs  Secretariat to the Inter-ministerial Co-ordination Group  Co-ordination of positions in WP, COREPER, EU Council  Communication with the European Commission (incl. coordination of expert groups of EC)  Co-operation with Czech Parliament (both chambers)  Co-operation with European Parliament  Participation in preparation of Impact Assessments (RIA)  Consultation with Regional Authorities  Consultation with stakeholders (Consultation Forum – 2x year)  Briefing for Embassies in Prague  Monitoring of infringements and ECJ decisions  Preparations of positions for other meetings – EPRG, EEA, IMPEL, etc.  Negotiations and co-operation with other MSs  Monitoring of transposition and implementation of EC legislation 

15. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 2.Other departments in EU issues  Legislative department Transposition of EC legislation Notification of transposition to the Cabinet Office In the team of the government assignee for representing the CR at the EC  Assistant to the Director General, Directorate of Strategies and Legislation Co-ordination of infringement procedure  Department of Economics RIA

16. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 3.Technical (expert) departments EU issues Domestic issues issues Every day work

17. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Lessons learnt  Language issue  Experts to be involved right in the beginning of the process  Encourage experts to have links with experts from other MSs  EU Department to exchange info with other MSs  Consultation with stakeholders  Find capacity for strategic issues  Not divide domestic and EU issues  Sources of information

18. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Sources of information  Programme of the Presidency (Council Programme) http://www.eu2006.fi  Work plan of the EC, other strategic documents of EC http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm  Council http://www.consilium.eu.int  Other tips: Council Guide Issue Tracker Sources of the PermRep

19. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 3. Participation in EU institutions

20. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Main meetings in the EU  European Commission Expert Groups of the EC – irregular  EU Council Working Party of the EU Council – monthly plan (3-5x week) COREPER – Ambassador/Deputy Ambassador (2x week) EU Council – Minister (4x formal, 2x informal)

21. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 EU Council Working Group PermRep/expert Expert ImCG PermRep Expert Group Expert EC – DG ENV COREPERPermRep EU Council minister EU Com ImCG Expert PermRep Expert ImCG PermRep Expert ImCG

22. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Types of Positions  Framework position (on request from the Parliament) Description Position of the CR Impact on national legislation Impact on state budget Other impacts (environmental, health, economical, social) Position of EC, EP and other MSs Procedure issues

23. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Types of Positions  Instructions (Working Party of EU Council, COREPER) -Basic data – Name, No. of document, etc. -Proposal for speech -In the case of speech – reasoning -Description of the issue -Position of the CR -Position of MS, EP, EC

24. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Types of Positions  Mandate (EU Council) -Basic data – Name, No. of document, etc. -Proposal for speech -Description of the issue (incl. process of negotiations in WP and COREPER) -Position of the CR -Position of MS, EP, EC

25. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Co-operation with European Parliament  MoE provides info about positions on EU Council  Ad hoc consultations  Seminars for MEPs on specific issues (e.g. REACH)

26. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Problems after the accession -Lack of capacity -Time pressure – programme and documents are received late -Lack of time for detailed analysis -Instructions missed specific arguments -Lack of links with other MS

27. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Information to stakeholders  ImCG – guests from other institutions, associations, etc.  Consultation Forum – broad audience (incl. NGOs, regions, associations, etc.) – 2x year  Guide to the … Presidency of the EU – 2x year  Monthly information on latest developments in Czech for regions, etc.  Internet – regular update  Briefings for Embassies – 2 year  Publications of MoE – Planeta, Zpravodaj, etc.

28. Twinning Project RO2004/IB/EN-09 Implementation and Enforcement of the Environmental Acquis at National Level and Coordination of the 8 Regional Twinning Projects Component 1 - Activity 1.3 training in EU co-ordination 20 July 2006 Thank you for your attention!