EFTA Bulletin (Switzerland) articles from June 2002

EFTA Bulletin (Switzerland) archives from June 2002

Foreword.(Editorial)
June 1, 2002... In parallel with the EU, the European Economic Area is preparing for enlargement. At the same time the EU is busily assessing its method of governance. In this rapidly evolving environment, it is important to reinforce understanding of the...

Introduction.(Editorial)
June 1, 2002... Otto von Bismarck reportedly said "laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." Bearing in mind that many of the EU's committees are involved in the manufacture of laws, giving insight into the functioning of committees in...

The role of committees in European governance.
June 1, 2002... Committees are often derided as a necessary evil, as unproductive and ineffective organs established to manage complex technical or administrative functions. Precisely because committees selectively gather the interests, experience and opinions...

The importance of participation in committees.
June 1, 2002... One of the important advantages of the EEA Agreement is that it gives the EEA EFTA States access to hundreds of Commission committees and working groups. It would of course have been more interesting to gain access also to the Council and its...

EEA EFTA decision-shaping.
June 1, 2002... There are two predominant goals for the participation of EEA EFTA States in EU Committees: * to influence the shaping of legislation * to influence the management of EU programmes A recent estimate by the EFTA Secretariat indicates...

Influencing legislation.
June 1, 2002... The EEA EFTA States have the opportunity to participate in the shaping of decisions at early stages in the formulation of EU legislation. It is at the earliest stages of policy formation, in fact, that EEA EFTA input can have the greatest...

Expert committees (4).
June 1, 2002... Expert Committees are formed to advise the Commission and to assist it with drafting new laws, which will later be adopted by the Council. These committees consist of independent experts who provide their opinions and insights in what is...

Committees are information channels.
June 1, 2002... Ms Kristin Johnstad is from the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. She participates in the Regulatory Committee on the Indication by Labelling and Standard Product Information on the Consumption of Energy and Other Resources of...

Success story: influencing maritime safety policy.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Following the wreckage of the oil tanker Erika off the coast of Brittany, the Commission invited experts to a meeting to discuss new legislation for maritime oil transport safety. The participation of EEA EFTA States in these deliberations was...

Comitology committees.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... When the Council and the European Parliament have legislated on "what" should be done, they often authorize the Commission to create legislation stipulating "how" it should be done, and giving it the mandate to fill in technical and detailed...

Mr Knut Flatlandsmo, Norwegian Agricultural Inspection Service.
June 1, 2002... Mr Flatlandsmo has extensive experience in participation in EU committees. Most recently he has participated in the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health--Animal Nutrition. The committee is divided into a "Standing Committee" which...

Interview with Bjorn Skogstad Aamo, Director General of Kredittilsynet: our ambitions should be realistic and pragmatic.(Interview)
June 1, 2002... Bjorn Skogstad Aamo has been Director General of Kredittilsynet (the Banking, Insurance and Securities Commission of Norway) since 1993. He has a degree in Macro-Economy (Cand. Oecon) from the University of Oslo. He has been State Secretary in...

Interview with Bjorn Skogstad Aamo, Director General of Kredittilsynet: our ambitions should be realistic and pragmatic.(Interview)
June 1, 2002... Bjorn Skogstad Aamo has been Director General of Kredittilsynet (the Banking, Insurance and Securities Commission of Norway) since 1993. He has a degree in Macro-Economy (Cand. Oecon) from the University of Oslo. He has been State Secretary in...

Other committees.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Commission consults committees that fall into neither of the categories mentioned above. These committees often fulfil the Commission's requirement for ongoing advice on complex scientific, technical or legal issues, such as veterinary and...

Example of article 101 committee (Protocol 37): the Contact Committee on money laundering.
June 1, 2002... The Contact Committee on Money Laundering was set up according to Article 13 of Council Directive 91/308/EEC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering. The purpose of the Committee is to facilitate...

Influencing the management of programmes.(o)
June 1, 2002... Part VI of the EEA Agreement ensures EEA EFTA participation in EU activities outside the four freedoms, in the so-called flanking areas. These activities come under the "internal policies" of the EU, and they are often implemented through...

Interview with Ms Karin Zech, Integration Office, Liechtenstein: participating in programme committees: "it is important to show our presence".(Interview)
June 1, 2002... * What programme committees are you participating in? I follow several programmes, including specific programmes under the Fifth Research Framework Programme and the Multiannual Programme for Enterprises and Entrepreneurship. In addition, I...

Other channels for influence--comments and written contributions.
June 1, 2002... Participation in committees is not the only channel for EEA EFTA influence. Depending on relevance to the EEA Agreement, the EEA EFTA States can provide written comments to a legislative proposal or programme. Comments may be sent individually...

The role of the social partners as policy-makers: Social Dialogue & negotiations at European level.
June 1, 2002... The EEA EFTA social partners' participation in the EU Social Dialogue has provided them with a unique potential of influencing EU/EEA social legislation as compared to that of EFTA governments. The Social Dialogue (based on Articles 138 and...

Statskonsult on improving performance in EU committees: EEA EFTA participation in the shaping of EEA legislation.
June 1, 2002... Preface This is an article about the Norwegian experience of the EEA Agreement from the perspectire of the national public administration. The emphasis is on how the opportunity for participation in EU committees has been made use of. To...

EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee report and resolution on EC comitology and the EEA, adopted on 20th June 2001.(Annex II)
June 1, 2002... Co-rapporteurs: Mr Vidar Bjornstad (Labour Party, Norway) Mr Markus Ferber (EPP-ED, Germany) I INTRODUCTION 1. The proliferation of different types of committees performing different functions in the political process characterises...