“Understanding the European Institutions and Lobbying”
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“UNDERSTANDING THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS AND LOBBYING” YOUNG EUROPEAN MEAT COMMITTEE – SPRING STUDY VISIT IN THE BRUSSELS AREA 14th & 15th March 2017 REF.10820 1 MONDAY 13th MARCH 2017 Welcome dinner for Friends of YEMCo On Monday evening, a dinner rue Sainte-Catherine. The spot is its unique decoration. The was organised in the very centre renowned for its all-you-can-eat participants were able to get of Brussels at the restaurant spare ribs, unavoidably served acquainted with one another ‘Amadeo’, located on the lively with a baked potato, as well as while enjoying a generous meal. 2 Tuesday 14th March 2017 Morning Session – European Commission, Charlemagne Building On Tuesday, the group met at 8:30am in front of This having been said, Mr. Pascoe detailed the 4 the Charlemagne building in the heart of the roles of the Commission i.e.: European Quarter. The Charlemagne building 1) Initiating laws and policies, houses the Department for Communication 2) Implementing policies and budget, (COMM), the Directorate-General for Economic and 3) Guardian of the Treaties, and Financial Affairs (ECFIN), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Internal Audit Service of 4) Representing the EU in the world. the Commission (IAS), the Secretariat General (SG), the Directorate-General for Trade (TRADE). The morning session was dedicated to understanding the functioning of the European Commission and the legislative procedure. 9am - The European Commission: the political executive of the European Union Simon PASCOE, Member of the speakers' team, D-G COMM Mr. Pascoe went back to the election process The delegates were welcomed by Simon Pascoe, leading to the Juncker Commission (2014-19). The who first presented a timeline retracing the election process started in the summer of 2012. In European Commissions in office from the Monnet March 2014 Jean-Claude Juncker was designated Authority (1952-55) to the Juncker Commission EPP’s candidate in case of victory at the European (2014-19). elections. This happened with the EPP winning 221 Then in his intervention he explained the working seats out of 751. Mr. Juncker’s candidacy was th principles of the European Commission. proposed on 27 June 2014 by the European Council (formed by the Heads of State) to the The EC is the executive body of the European European Parliament. He was elected following the Union. The 28 members, one from each country, act state-of-the-union speech and the vote of as a college: all votes are equal. It promotes the confidence of the EP on 15th July 2014. general interest of the Union. Mr. Pascoe reminded of the first priority of the The competences of the EC are of three types: Juncker term: deal with competitiveness to create exclusive (e.g. on trade and competition), shared growth. This priority is reflected by the 324 (e.g. on agriculture), and supporting (e.g. on projects which had been financed by European tourism). Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) of the European Investment Bank as of 2016. In a November 2014 video about this investment initiative, Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President, Jobs, 3 Growth, Investments and Competitiveness, Mr. Simonin explained, by way of introduction, that explained that Europe is experiencing a deficit in the Directorate-General Health and Food Safety has investment and details the 3 lines of the historically been a core business. However, investment plan proposed: mobilisation of legislation today is no longer the only way to financial resources, identification of viable projects, achieve policy objectives. and improvement of investment conditions. In The 3 key players for legislation are the European particular, support should be provided to small Commission, the European Parliament (since local business and to installing broadband in low Lisbon Treaty), and the Council. The EC makes population density areas. proposals for basic acts while the two other A second video was shown focusing on the Better institutions act as co-legislators. Mr. Simonin Regulation Package. 74% of the Europeans believe presented a diagram explaining the ordinary that the EU generates too many regulatory legislative procedure. burdens. The package aims at allowing greater transparency around decision-making, wider public consultation, improved impact assessments, and a new approach to reviewing the stock of EU legislation. The video explains the initiatives of the Commission at the different stages of the legislative process. Before the EU takes action, the Commission examines potential consequences through impact assessments. Since 2015, following implementation, the Commission has been examining all suggestions from stakeholders to make EU laws more efficient through REFIT. Further documents were made available to the He further detailed the work of the Commission: group: - White paper on the future of Europe While drafting the proposal, the - the Juncker Commission Commission turns to the European Food - Publication update Security Agency (EFSA) for scientific advice. - Juncker Commission publications EFSA has been performing risk assessments - State of the Union since it provided its first opinion in 2004. EFSA’s work relies on gathering scientific information based on peer review journals. 10.45am - How the EU legislation is The EC also carries out an Impact produced: a case study on animal welfare Assessment (IA). IA is a formal internal process to check that legislation is justified Denis SIMONIN, D-G SANTE, Head of Sector - and fit for purpose. IA always accompanies Animal Welfare Sector the legal proposal, and all submissions and Denis Simonin took over the session following a comments are publicly available. It is first coffee break. His intervention was a case study on submitted to a regulatory scrutiny board. animal welfare. Finally, the EC often requests a socio- economic study from an external contractor. 4 This step is part of the IA process. The study At the European Parliament, the committees allows collecting information on current are the first steps to examine the proposal practices, socio-economic information, and initiated by the European Commission. In the views of stakeholders on the possible the case of animal welfare, the reference scenarios. committees are AGRI and ENVI. There are always a lead committee and an associated In the case of animal welfare, the proposal is first committee. Discussions in the committees drafted at DG SANTE level. It must be approved by are led by their rapporteurs. Shadow the Commissioners and then by the Vice-Presidents rapporteurs are MEPs designed to follow a of the Commission. Following inter-service proposal for European parties different consultation, the legal proposal is sent to the from that of the rapporteur. After College for adoption. amendments have been voted in the committees, the proposal is sent for vote in plenary. Mr. Simonin mentioned when lobby actions are possible. He underlined the role of EU associations such as UECBV in the consultation process. He encouraged the participants to be attentive to UECBV work so that they can have their say via the association. He concluded by laying focus on the transparency of the Commission’s work. The validation process narrows the points of discussion. It is important to The legal proposal is subsequently sent to the ensure regular vigilance and provide active Council of Ministers and to the European propositions. Parliament for adoption. 11.30am - Hygiene rules in Mr. Simonin later detailed the operating principles slaughterhouses of the legal process at the Council and the European Parliament: Aidan CAHILL, DG SANTE, Unit G4 - Food Hygiene The Council represents national governments of all Member States. The vote In his intervention, Mr. Cahill first reminded of a takes place by qualified majority. The few historical facts regarding food safety presidency is rotating every six months regulation. He told that, back in Antiquity, laws on (Malta until July 2017). Preparatory work is food hygiene already existed in some cities. He provided by Expert Working Groups for mentioned two books i.e. Friedrich Accum’s technical issues. Then it goes to the Attachés “Culinary Poisons” (1820) which marked the meetings which are more horizontal and beginning of a need for food safety, and Upton political. Finally, the COREPER (level of Sinclair’s “The Jungle” (1906) which both Ambassadors) solve the issues not yet highlighted the appalling conditions of meat solved. 5 workers and exposed unhygienic practices in hygiene practice, controls on HACCP (Hazard slaughterhouses. analysis & critical control points) procedures, import rules. In 1996, the BSE crisis led to the introduction of a stringent legal framework, reappraised by Mr. Cahill further detailed selected parts of the subsequent crises in the 1990s – Dioxin, hygiene package relevant to slaughterhouse rules. Salmonella. He then addressed the main possible revisions, including a more risk-based approach to control But such a framework was spread across many imported composite products and a more risk- legal instruments with some inconsistencies, gaps based meat inspection. and overlaps. In January 2002, the EU adopted the framework Regulation No 178/2002 (General Food Law). It enacted the following general principles: risk- based analysis and scientific basis, precautionary principle, protections of consumers’ interest, and principle of transparency. It encompasses all foodstuffs and stages (“from farm to fork”). Regulation No 178/2002 set up the European Food Safety Agency, the Standing