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BEPA Monthly Brief - March 2010, Issue 35 1 Bureau of European Policy Advisers: a Fresh Start by Paola Colombo

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BEPA Monthly Brief - March 2010, Issue 35 1 Bureau of European Policy Advisers: a Fresh Start by Paola Colombo BEPA Contents page MONTHLY Bureau of European Policy Advisers: a fresh start 2 EU Agenda on Globalisation: the case of the European Com- 4 BRIEF mission’s International Dialogue on Bioethics Experts discuss Europe’s role in a new world order 7 Event hosted by the Bureau of Policy Advisers (BEPA) Euro-African Institute on Remittances: a deliverable for 2010 9 March 2010, Issue 35 EDITORIAL by Stefano Bertozzi With the advent of the new Commission, the layout and Lisbon Treaty will generate momentum behind this major content of the BEPA Monthly have changed slightly. Some initiative. It also gives a detailed account of the recent meet- parts have been discontinued and more careful attention ing which took place in Madrid on 4 and 5 March 2010. will be paid to the selection of subjects disseminated within Finally, the author argues in favour of the EU acceding the the Commission, including recent initiatives undertaken by Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Hu- BEPA. March's BEPA Monthly covers four main issues, man Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to namely the recent reform to streamline BEPA and make it applications of biology and medicine. more responsive to the constantly-changing needs of the The third lead article, by Margaritis Schinas, is highly topical President and the College, the major role played by the In- and provides valuable insights into Europe's role in a new ternational Dialogue on Bioethics in cultivating closer inter- world order and the challenges lying ahead in the interna- national cooperation in the field of bioethics and human tional arena. It draws on the results of a seminar hosted by rights, the ongoing discussion on the emergence of a new BEPA on 16 February 2010 and examines, among other global order and its attendant challenges for the European things, the interplay between power, interdependence and Union as an international player and, lastly, the case for es- crisis as the main drivers of change and the inter-relation tablishing a Euro-African Institute on remittances, which between established and emerging patterns of international would make a direct, positive impact on the living standards governance like the G7, G8 and G20 and Europe's standing of many families in Africa. and performance in this diverse and complex international To explain BEPA's newly adopted structure, the first lead setting. article, by Paola Colombo, starts by recapping the origins of Remembering the political commitments made at the first BEPA, before providing insights into the core activities of Africa-EU Ministerial Meeting on Migration and Develop- this unique Commission department, which brings added ment, which was held in Tripoli in November 2006, the value both to analytical work and policy advice. It also takes fourth lead article, by Stefano Bertozzi, makes a case for a close look at the dynamics between BEPA and the private establishing a Euro-African Institute on Remittances. Since office of the President and the Spokesperson's Service. the Commission will be taking part in the next Africa-EU The second lead article, by Maurizio Salvi, offers a convinc- Ministerial Meeting on Migration and Development, which ing analysis of how the International Dialogue on Bioethics is planned under the Belgian Presidency, the author argues has contributed to securing closer cooperation, both at that setting up this Institute could be a realistic deliverable European and at international level, in the field of human in the second half of 2010 if Europe wishes to keep its po- rights and bioethics and of how the entry into force of the litical capital vis-à-vis its African partners intact. Editor: Stefano Bertozzi (Tel. 21220) Assistant: Isabelle Dro (Tel. 71996) Disclaimer: The views expressed in the BEPA Monthly do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. BEPA Monthly Brief - March 2010, Issue 35 1 Bureau of European Policy Advisers: a fresh start By Paola Colombo Introduction was restructured to better meet the needs of the On 9 March 2010, the College approved the reor- new President. It was rebranded as the Bureau of ganisation of the Bureau of European Policy Advis- European Policy Advisers (BEPA), and was struc- ers (BEPA). This followed a complete review of its tured into three teams: political, economic, and so- mission and structure with the aim of bringing cietal. about a new organisational chart and fresh opera- tional methods. The purpose of the reorganisation A new mission to respond to new challenges of the service is to adapt it to the President's and Since 1989 the face of Europe has changed sub- College's needs, to refocus its mission and the way stantially. This has had a big impact on both the it liaises with its principal constituents. role of BEPA and the environment in which it op- erates, whether from an institutional perspective BEPA is the smallest autonomous Commission (new Treaty, new inter-institutional dynamics) or service with a unique interdisciplinary nature. It re- linked to evolving trends (global crisis, changing ports directly to the President and operates under demands on the EU structure). his authority. This is a huge privilege, but also a huge responsibility. What also makes BEPA rather Against this background, BEPA will continue to original in the Commission is that its mission, its carry out its core tasks, namely support and policy task, is not that much linked to the daily operations, advice to the President on specific tasks, outreach but to developments and trends that are relevant to to civil society, institutional activities in the field of policy-making in the medium and long term. ethics in science and new technologies, and pursuit of the dialogue with religions, churches and com- The Bureau is composed of a professional staff of munities of conviction. advisers, policy analysts and support staff, with ap- propriate experience and a proven track record, in The studies, the links with think tanks, stake- order to provide professional and targeted policy holders, academia, civil society, churches and com- advice to the President and to the College. munities of convictions, ethics, should be used as a fertiliser to fertilise policy, and should not be an end Where does BEPA come from? in itself. The origins of what is today known as BEPA go Hence, BEPA’s structure, the constituencies it ad- back to 1989, when the Forward Studies Unit was dresses, and the delivery methods have now been established by the European Commission as a small reviewed and more clearly focussed. Of particular "think tank" staffed with EU officials reporting di- importance is the need to ensure a close coopera- rectly to President Jacques Delors. The Unit's pri- tion and complementarity between the different mary task was to monitor and evaluate European services providing direct support to the President. integration by studying long-term prospects and structural tendencies, basing itself particularly on a Indeed, the mission of BEPA is complementary to network of external contacts with research insti- that of the President's Cabinet and to the Spokes- tutes specialised in long-term forecasting and plan- persons' service (SPP). The Cabinet provides day- ning. to-day management of the President's political ac- tivities, and the SPP is dedicated to media outreach. In May 2000, Romano Prodi changed the Forward BEPA will complete this picture by providing sup- Studies Unit into the Group of Policy Advisers port to the Cabinet on specific subjects, as well as (GOPA) under his direct authority with new re- policy advice of a more long-term nature, and by sources from within and outside the Commission. complementing the SPP's operations through its He entrusted it with four specific domains: eco- own outreach to civil society. nomics, social affairs, foreign affairs, and dialogue with religions. The Reorganisation: key features With the arrival of José Manuel Barroso as Presi- A New Structure dent of the European Commission in 2004, the In order to reflect the above, BEPA's structure has idea of having a group of dedicated advisers was been reorganised into two teams, replacing the not only maintained, but further improved. GOPA three thematic areas, namely: 2 BEPA Monthly Brief - March 2010, Issue 35 · the "Outreach" team, which is divided into and technological developments which may have the following three sectors: an influence on EU policies and the decision- making process. The CSA will report directly to the – "Speechwriting" sector, which works in President while the administrative support will be close coordination with the President's provided by BEPA. cabinet and the SSP, – "European Dialogue" sector, which co- External and Internal Expertise ordinates contacts with think tanks and The President, and the Commission at large, will academia on general issues of European require, in this second term, analytical work and integration as well as contacts in the fields constructive engagement with think tanks, research of culture and art, institutions and academia. BEPA should also play an important role in communication, both through – "Global Dialogue" sector, which sup- the work of the President's speechwriters and ports the Cabinet on external relations through other means of communication, such as issues. This sector also ensures the general policy reports, papers, presentations and work- liaison with churches and communities of shops. These should be directed in particular at re- faith, in order to take into account the searchers and opinion leaders, but also, on occa- global dimension of inter-religious dia- sion, at the general public. logue. BEPA’s work is applied, policy-oriented and aims · The "Analysis" team, which provides policy at relevant and timely production of information analysis and general or specific policy advice and advice.
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