A while ago Nosemonkey sparked off a lengthy discussion by asking: What percentage of laws come from the EU? (2 June 2009)
***
Over at the French think tank Notre Europe, Yves Bertoncini has published an assessment of the proportion of EU legislation: La législation nationale d’origine communautaire : briser le mythe des 80% (Les Brefs de Notre Europe No 13, mai 2009).
Bertoncini notes that the 80 per cent figure has caught on rapidly among both anti-Europeans and Euro-enthusiasts. It is difficult to reach a reliable figure, when assessing two different legal systems, but many have not been especially diligent in explaining that.
On 1 July 2008 the acquis communautaire comprised 28,031 legal acts (secondary acts, based on the treaties). Of these, 9,685 were Directives or Regulations.
Each year, the European Community produced between 2,181 (from 1978 to 2007) and 2,744 (from 1998 to 2007) Directives and Regulations.
In 2008 there were 2,249 Regulations and 247 Directives published in the Official Journal of the European Union (total 2,496).
The proportion of Community norms to French norms was a little less than 15 per cent.
The most heavily regulated areas were agriculture with about 42.6 per cent of all Regulations and Directives, the internal market including free movement with about 20 per cent and external relations (technical, economic and financial) with about 10 per cent.
The proportion of Community norms among legal norms applicable in France vary hugely between different sectors:
• Almost half in the agricultural sector
• About 20 per cent in the field of the economy and “foreign affairs”
• A little less than 5 per cent in “ecology”
• Less than 2 per cent in ten other sectors studied
Even given the methodological difficulties, Bertoncini concludes that the proportion of Community norms is closer to 20 than to 80 per cent.
Ralf Grahn
Showing posts with label Yves Bertoncini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yves Bertoncini. Show all posts
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
French EU presidency: Win-win?
President Nicolas Sarkozy made some interesting observations at the start of France’s six month presidency of the European Council and the Council.
For the main points, read for instance the BBC news item ‘Warning as France takes EU helm’:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7482197.stm
Sarkozy stated that Europe’s citizens were losing faith in the project and he added that something isn’t right.
Getting the Treaty of Lisbon approved by the remaining EU member states is a priority.
***
Thoughtful and humble can mean at least two different things.
Sarkozy must be aware of sentiments regarding French arrogance and his own impulsive personality, as well as of popular resistance against and disillusionment with the European Union. Recognition of such feelings may be suitable, but superficial.
On the other hand, sometimes growing uncertainty carries the seeds of change. In that case, there might be hope.
Nearly eight years of treaty reform work without concrete results has not diminished the need for more effective decision-making in the European Union. But growing numbers of Europeans feel that decisions are emigrating to ‘Brussels’ and that they are losing control.
It would indeed be a “step backward” to try to re-export the great international challenges to the national level, ever less able to cope. But it is untenable to strengthen the European level of governance without extending citizens’ power to all questions European.
The Lisbon Treaty and the possible new Irish referendum have to be placed on a new footing. France has to overcome its own historical addiction to dreams of European power without the supranational and democratic means to achieve it, and the French presidency must convince its partners and the EU’s citizens that the European project can succeed only on the foundation of democratic legitimacy and accountability.
Gaetane Ricard-Nihoul and Yves Bertoncini pointed in the right direction in ‘Après le “non” irlandais, ouvrons le débat’ (Les Echos, 26 June 2008), when they said that the European Union in the 21st century is either more democratic or not at all:
http://www.lesechos.fr/info/analyses/4744981.htm
***
Protective gimmicks show a realisation of the problem, but they are not enough.
Europe needs a win-win solution: Better institutions and power for the people, real democratic reform.
Ralf Grahn
For the main points, read for instance the BBC news item ‘Warning as France takes EU helm’:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7482197.stm
Sarkozy stated that Europe’s citizens were losing faith in the project and he added that something isn’t right.
Getting the Treaty of Lisbon approved by the remaining EU member states is a priority.
***
Thoughtful and humble can mean at least two different things.
Sarkozy must be aware of sentiments regarding French arrogance and his own impulsive personality, as well as of popular resistance against and disillusionment with the European Union. Recognition of such feelings may be suitable, but superficial.
On the other hand, sometimes growing uncertainty carries the seeds of change. In that case, there might be hope.
Nearly eight years of treaty reform work without concrete results has not diminished the need for more effective decision-making in the European Union. But growing numbers of Europeans feel that decisions are emigrating to ‘Brussels’ and that they are losing control.
It would indeed be a “step backward” to try to re-export the great international challenges to the national level, ever less able to cope. But it is untenable to strengthen the European level of governance without extending citizens’ power to all questions European.
The Lisbon Treaty and the possible new Irish referendum have to be placed on a new footing. France has to overcome its own historical addiction to dreams of European power without the supranational and democratic means to achieve it, and the French presidency must convince its partners and the EU’s citizens that the European project can succeed only on the foundation of democratic legitimacy and accountability.
Gaetane Ricard-Nihoul and Yves Bertoncini pointed in the right direction in ‘Après le “non” irlandais, ouvrons le débat’ (Les Echos, 26 June 2008), when they said that the European Union in the 21st century is either more democratic or not at all:
http://www.lesechos.fr/info/analyses/4744981.htm
***
Protective gimmicks show a realisation of the problem, but they are not enough.
Europe needs a win-win solution: Better institutions and power for the people, real democratic reform.
Ralf Grahn
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