IP/04/1139
Bruxelles, le
The Commission approves a report on the European governance (2003-2004)
At the beginning of its mandate, the Commission had identified the improvement of the European governance as a priority. After a wide-ranging debate open to all the institutions, the Member States and the citizens of the Union, the 2001 White Paper on the European governance presented the Commission’s answers to a number of questions from public authorities and citizens about the Union’s capacity and strategy to enhance the effectiveness of its policies and to bring institutions closer to the citizens.
The report
examined by the Commission during its meeting of
These actions
concern the following areas: “better regulation”, participation of the civil society; impact assessment, acquisition and use
of scientific expertise; update and simplification of the Community acquis;
regulatory agencies; improvement of the implementation of Community law and its
monitoring; regional and local dimension of the Union (permanent dialogue
between the Commission and local and regional authorities’ associations; target-based
tripartite agreements and contracts); refocusing European policies and
institutions (including in the framework of the Constitution for Europe);
European public sphere.
The report notes that practically all the actions announced by the
Commission in 2001 were carried out or are currently underway.
The Commission also
notes that the continuity of certain ideas and guidelines
recommended by the White Paper, such as participative democracy, the dialogue
with the regions and the cities, or administrative cooperation between Member
States, have been taken into account in the constitutional Treaty.
The report
will be forwarded to the different institutions and bodies of the
It will be available at the following address: