The Commission’s Annual General Report is clearly set out at treaty level: both the obligation to publish for the Commission and the task to discuss for the European Parliament.
But looking for the European Parliament’s follow-up makes me wonder if my search techniques are sub-standard or if the EP does not care about its obligation.
Regardless, for others the Annual General Report is a valuable tool.
***
Current treaty
European Parliament
The European Parliament has an obligation to discuss the Annual General Report according to Article 200 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) concerns EP scrutiny (OJEU OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/135):
Article 200 TEC
The European Parliament shall discuss in open session the annual general report submitted to it by the Commission.
***
Lisbon Treaty
The corresponding provision in the consolidated Treaty of Lisbon is Article 233 TFEU (OJEU OJEU 9.5.2008 C 115/152).
***
Obligation of the Commission
The Commission is required to publish a number of (annual) reports, among which the General Report is the centerpiece, based on Article 212 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC); in the consolidated version of the treaties, OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/139:
Article 212 TEC
The Commission shall publish annually, not later than one month before the opening of the session of the European Parliament, a general report on the activities of the Community.
***
Lisbon Treaty
In the consolidated Treaty of Lisbon the corresponding provision on the obligation for the Commission to publish is Article 249(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), published OJEU 9.5.2008 C 115/157.
***
EP discussing the Annual General Report
EP Rules of Procedure
The main rules on procedures within the European Parliament are found in the Rules of Procedure (16th edition, October 2008).
Rule 112(1) would seem to require a committee report to the plenary, if we understand the mandatory discussion would lead to an opinion by the Parliament:
CHAPTER 4 REPORTS OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS
Rule 112 Annual reports and other reports of other institutions
1. Annual reports and other reports of other institutions, in respect of which the Treaties provide for consultation of the European Parliament or where other legal provisions require an opinion by the European Parliament, shall be dealt with by means of a report submitted to the plenary.
2. Annual reports and other reports of other institutions not falling within the scope of paragraph 1 shall be referred to the appropriate committee which may propose drawing up a report pursuant to Rule 45.
***
EP practice
I failed to find any follow-up on the European Parliament’s web pages of the Annual General Report for 2007, published in 2008 as Commission document SEC(2007) 1000 final.
According to literature, the European Parliament has combined the forward looking debate on the Commission’s legislative and work programme for the following year with the (boring?) discussion on the Annual General Report, but I failed to find the Annual General Report even formally mentioned in the European Parliament resolution P6_TA(2007)0613of 12 December 2007 on the Commission legislative and work programme for 2008.
If this result is correct, it goes beyond what I consider to be a correct application of the treaty, but I am more than happy if someone is willing to make the relevant references known.
(Cf. Rule 33.)
***
General Report 2008
On 4 March 2009 the Commission published the General Report on the Activities of the European Union in 2008, SEC(2008) 1000 final. .
On the about 260 pages the Commission describes the main developments during 2008 under seven Chapter headings:
General political and economic framework
Prosperity
Solidarity
Security and freedom
Europe in the world
Life of the institutions, other bodies and agencies
Budget and financial activities
The General Report is available at:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/rg2008en.pdf
***
Useful resource
Perhaps the political groups and the MEPs find the Annual General Report uninteresting and even boring, but for journalists, researchers, teachers, lobbyists and students it is a valuable resource.
Published in 22 languages, the General Report is a useful tool to get an overview of developments within each policy area of the European Union. The references to sources are helpful in the search for documents.
The General Report is complemented by the monthly Bulletin (provisional and final).
Ralf Grahn
Showing posts with label resource. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resource. Show all posts
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Saturday, 14 March 2009
European Union: Activity reports 2008
The Commission of the European Communities and the Swedish government have published their annual reports on the activities of the European Union. They are important sources for journalists, researchers, teachers, students, businesses, politicians, public officials, NGOs and interested citizens.
Has the Swedish example caught on in other EU member states?
***
COMMISSION
General Report
On 4 March 2009 the Commission published the General Report on the Activities of the European Union in 2008.
On the about 260 pages of its annual report the Commission describes the main developments during 2008 under seven Chapter headings:
General political and economic framework
Prosperity
Solidarity
Security and freedom
Europe in the world
Life of the institutions, other bodies and agencies
Budget and financial activities
The General Report is available at:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/rg2008en.pdf
***
Useful
Published in 22 languages, the General Report is a useful tool to get an overview of developments within each policy area of the European Union. The references to sources are helpful in the search for documents.
The General Report is complemented by the monthly Bulletin (provisional and final).
***
Treaty basis
The Commission is required to publish a number of (annual) reports, among which the General Report is the centerpiece, based on Article 212 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC); in the consolidated version of the treaties, OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/139:
Article 212 TEC
The Commission shall publish annually, not later than one month before the opening of the session of the European Parliament, a general report on the activities of the Community.
***
Lisbon Treaty
In the consolidated Treaty of Lisbon the corresponding provision is Article 249(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), published OJEU 9.5.2008 C 115/157.
***
European Parliament
The General Report is addressed to the European Parliament, and Article 200 TEC concerns EP scrutiny (OJEU page 135):
Article 200 TEC
The European Parliament shall discuss in open session the annual general report submitted to it by the Commission.
***
Lisbon Treaty
The corresponding provision in the consolidated Treaty of Lisbon is Article 233 TFEU (OJEU page 152).
***
SWEDEN
The Swedish government publishes an annual report to the Parliament (Riksdagen) on activities in the European Union (as well as useful reports on the Council of Europe and the OSCE) .
For those who are able to read Swedish the latest EU report (Regeringens skrivelse 2008/09:85 Berättelse on verksamheten i Europeiska unionen) is a valuable resource.
Like the previous reports, the 2008 version published 5 March 2009 offers at least the quantity (374 pages) and quality of the Commission’s General Report.
The Swedish report is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/12/25/08/6109a562.pdf
***
Duty to publish
The Swedish government’s duty to publish the report is based on the Riksdag Act (1974:153, as amended on 1 July 2007):
Chapter 10. Conduct of European Union business
Government’s obligation to inform the Riksdag of EU work
Art. 1. In accordance with Chapter 10, Article 6 of the Instrument of Government, the Government shall keep the Riksdag continuously informed concerning developments within the framework of European Union cooperation.
The Government shall account to the Riksdag concerning its actions at the European Union and shall submit a written communication annually to the Riksdag reporting activities at the European Union.
***
Other national reports?
Dear Reader, do you know how your government reports on EU activities to its parliament and citizens?
Ralf Grahn
Has the Swedish example caught on in other EU member states?
***
COMMISSION
General Report
On 4 March 2009 the Commission published the General Report on the Activities of the European Union in 2008.
On the about 260 pages of its annual report the Commission describes the main developments during 2008 under seven Chapter headings:
General political and economic framework
Prosperity
Solidarity
Security and freedom
Europe in the world
Life of the institutions, other bodies and agencies
Budget and financial activities
The General Report is available at:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/rg2008en.pdf
***
Useful
Published in 22 languages, the General Report is a useful tool to get an overview of developments within each policy area of the European Union. The references to sources are helpful in the search for documents.
The General Report is complemented by the monthly Bulletin (provisional and final).
***
Treaty basis
The Commission is required to publish a number of (annual) reports, among which the General Report is the centerpiece, based on Article 212 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC); in the consolidated version of the treaties, OJEU 29.12.2006 C 321 E/139:
Article 212 TEC
The Commission shall publish annually, not later than one month before the opening of the session of the European Parliament, a general report on the activities of the Community.
***
Lisbon Treaty
In the consolidated Treaty of Lisbon the corresponding provision is Article 249(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), published OJEU 9.5.2008 C 115/157.
***
European Parliament
The General Report is addressed to the European Parliament, and Article 200 TEC concerns EP scrutiny (OJEU page 135):
Article 200 TEC
The European Parliament shall discuss in open session the annual general report submitted to it by the Commission.
***
Lisbon Treaty
The corresponding provision in the consolidated Treaty of Lisbon is Article 233 TFEU (OJEU page 152).
***
SWEDEN
The Swedish government publishes an annual report to the Parliament (Riksdagen) on activities in the European Union (as well as useful reports on the Council of Europe and the OSCE) .
For those who are able to read Swedish the latest EU report (Regeringens skrivelse 2008/09:85 Berättelse on verksamheten i Europeiska unionen) is a valuable resource.
Like the previous reports, the 2008 version published 5 March 2009 offers at least the quantity (374 pages) and quality of the Commission’s General Report.
The Swedish report is available at:
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/12/25/08/6109a562.pdf
***
Duty to publish
The Swedish government’s duty to publish the report is based on the Riksdag Act (1974:153, as amended on 1 July 2007):
Chapter 10. Conduct of European Union business
Government’s obligation to inform the Riksdag of EU work
Art. 1. In accordance with Chapter 10, Article 6 of the Instrument of Government, the Government shall keep the Riksdag continuously informed concerning developments within the framework of European Union cooperation.
The Government shall account to the Riksdag concerning its actions at the European Union and shall submit a written communication annually to the Riksdag reporting activities at the European Union.
***
Other national reports?
Dear Reader, do you know how your government reports on EU activities to its parliament and citizens?
Ralf Grahn
Thursday, 15 May 2008
EU resources: How to find them (Example: transport policies)
Do you need resources on EU policies or law? Are you in a hurry, but don’t know where to start?
Many find the European Union’s web pages hard to navigate. Therefore, I have tried to gather a few basic resources, without striving to include everything.
Here is a selective (or eclectic) list of gateways to EU economics, law and policies. We use transport policy as an example, but you can ‘mutatis mutandis’ use most of the materials in other policy fields.
***
What is the importance and impact of transport within the European Union?
EU energy and transport in figures, Statistical pocketbook 2007/2008, offers 216 pages of information about two crucial economic sectors:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/figures/pocketbook/doc/2007/2007_pocketbook_all_en.pdf
In another policy area, you might not be as lucky, but almost every area of human activity leaves a statistical footprint. For the European Union, your default option is to see what Eurostat has to offer:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1090,30070682,1090_33076576&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
***
What has happened since your course-book was finalised?
The Commission’s Activities of the European Union Transport web page, offers all-round links to EU transport matters:
http://europa.eu/pol/trans/index_en.htm
In the same way you can access every DG of the European Commission through the Europa portal:
http://europa.eu/
Look for ‘What the European Union does by subject’ on:
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
***
The Commission’s Scadplus web pages, with summaries of legislation, present thematic starting points for different policy areas. Transport is found on:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s13000.htm
Correspondingly, you find the other areas of European Community (European Union) legislation through:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/scad_en.htm
***
What is going on in the European Union?
As always, the European Commission’s General Report on the Activities of the European Union 2007 offers a summary of the main developments in the various policy areas, except for the latest months after the beginning of 2008, with Transport on pages 76 to 83. The current report can be accessed through:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/welcome.htm
In this and in other cases, for those who understand a Nordic language, the government of Sweden offers an annual report of comparable scope and quality. The latest activity report is ‘Regeringens skirivelse 2007/2008:85 Berättelse om verksamheten I Europeiska union under 2007’, with transport treated on pages 163 to 180 (in ’Del 7 Transporter, elektroniska kommunikationer och energi’):
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/10/06/17/00a8fda3.pdf
Both the Commission’s Activity Report and the Swedish Annual Report work as well for other policy fields.
***
You missed the last days?
The latest press releases from the EU institutions are found on ‘What’s new on Europa’:
http://europa.eu/geninfo/whatsnew.htm
***
Foreign and security policy? European Council or Council?
If your interest concerns the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including the common security and defence policy (CSDP), or the European Council or the different Council configurations, the Council web pages are for you:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.ASP?lang=en
***
Naturally, there are lots of more EU web sites depending on your interests. Law librarians have compiled useful EU research guides, but for a ‘quick and dirty’ search a few minutes on the ‘Essential European Union Law Websites’ may be all you need. The Delegation of the European Commission to the USA has compiled the mini site map of European Union legal web pages:
http://www.eurunion.org/infores/BestLawSites.htm
***
Languages?
I have followed the English web pages, but the European Union has 23 treaty languages and official languages. This means that you can find the treaties, secondary legislation and proposals in these languages.
A huge amount of information material is produced in every official EU language, and there are often language options on the web page, once you have found what you are looking for.
Press releases and other non-binding materials are translated according to need and capacity, with the Commission’s working languages (English, French and German) well represented. The Council works almost equally in English and French (my feeling), and the primary internal language of the European Court of Justice is French. The European Parliament heroically translates most information material into every official language.
Still, knowing languages increases your options. The press release or document you are looking for may be released earlier in one language, but it may take a while before the other language versions appear.
***
Dear reader, I would be happy to read about your experiences navigating the European Union.
Ralf Grahn
Many find the European Union’s web pages hard to navigate. Therefore, I have tried to gather a few basic resources, without striving to include everything.
Here is a selective (or eclectic) list of gateways to EU economics, law and policies. We use transport policy as an example, but you can ‘mutatis mutandis’ use most of the materials in other policy fields.
***
What is the importance and impact of transport within the European Union?
EU energy and transport in figures, Statistical pocketbook 2007/2008, offers 216 pages of information about two crucial economic sectors:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/figures/pocketbook/doc/2007/2007_pocketbook_all_en.pdf
In another policy area, you might not be as lucky, but almost every area of human activity leaves a statistical footprint. For the European Union, your default option is to see what Eurostat has to offer:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1090,30070682,1090_33076576&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
***
What has happened since your course-book was finalised?
The Commission’s Activities of the European Union Transport web page, offers all-round links to EU transport matters:
http://europa.eu/pol/trans/index_en.htm
In the same way you can access every DG of the European Commission through the Europa portal:
http://europa.eu/
Look for ‘What the European Union does by subject’ on:
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
***
The Commission’s Scadplus web pages, with summaries of legislation, present thematic starting points for different policy areas. Transport is found on:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s13000.htm
Correspondingly, you find the other areas of European Community (European Union) legislation through:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/scad_en.htm
***
What is going on in the European Union?
As always, the European Commission’s General Report on the Activities of the European Union 2007 offers a summary of the main developments in the various policy areas, except for the latest months after the beginning of 2008, with Transport on pages 76 to 83. The current report can be accessed through:
http://europa.eu/generalreport/en/welcome.htm
In this and in other cases, for those who understand a Nordic language, the government of Sweden offers an annual report of comparable scope and quality. The latest activity report is ‘Regeringens skirivelse 2007/2008:85 Berättelse om verksamheten I Europeiska union under 2007’, with transport treated on pages 163 to 180 (in ’Del 7 Transporter, elektroniska kommunikationer och energi’):
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/10/06/17/00a8fda3.pdf
Both the Commission’s Activity Report and the Swedish Annual Report work as well for other policy fields.
***
You missed the last days?
The latest press releases from the EU institutions are found on ‘What’s new on Europa’:
http://europa.eu/geninfo/whatsnew.htm
***
Foreign and security policy? European Council or Council?
If your interest concerns the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including the common security and defence policy (CSDP), or the European Council or the different Council configurations, the Council web pages are for you:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.ASP?lang=en
***
Naturally, there are lots of more EU web sites depending on your interests. Law librarians have compiled useful EU research guides, but for a ‘quick and dirty’ search a few minutes on the ‘Essential European Union Law Websites’ may be all you need. The Delegation of the European Commission to the USA has compiled the mini site map of European Union legal web pages:
http://www.eurunion.org/infores/BestLawSites.htm
***
Languages?
I have followed the English web pages, but the European Union has 23 treaty languages and official languages. This means that you can find the treaties, secondary legislation and proposals in these languages.
A huge amount of information material is produced in every official EU language, and there are often language options on the web page, once you have found what you are looking for.
Press releases and other non-binding materials are translated according to need and capacity, with the Commission’s working languages (English, French and German) well represented. The Council works almost equally in English and French (my feeling), and the primary internal language of the European Court of Justice is French. The European Parliament heroically translates most information material into every official language.
Still, knowing languages increases your options. The press release or document you are looking for may be released earlier in one language, but it may take a while before the other language versions appear.
***
Dear reader, I would be happy to read about your experiences navigating the European Union.
Ralf Grahn
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