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EUROPEAN POLITICS: WHAT’S NEW IN 2009
Publication date: 12 January 2009
The year 2009 brings many changes to European politics, not least in the field of transport. We examine some of the major changes and challenges.
The year 2009 brings major changes with both the European Commission and European Parliament coming to an end of their terms. For the Parliament, this means that many MEPs will be as pre-occupied with getting re-elected at home as with pushing through technical or even high-profile dossiers. Whilst in principle legislation that is not completed by the Parliament before the June elections can be picked up again, new MEPs will definitely not be bound by any compromises or decisions taken by their predecessors. Another important factor is the higher turnover in the European Parliament than in national Parliaments. Of the 734 MEPs to be elected in June 2009 perhaps more than half of them will be first time members. For the FIA's European Bureau, these new faces mean a lot more knocking on Parliamentary doors and getting to know MEPs as well as their assistants. Trusted MEPs, too, may no longer be in Brussels or Strasbourg, if they fail to get elected.
Change also comes to the EU executive – the government of Europe, so to speak. The Commission's term will end in November 2008. Critics say commissioners' interest also shifts from EU policy to their own careers as the end of term approaches. Whilst there has been rumour of seeking to extend the term of the Commission until the supposed entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, this is unlikely to lead to a Commission with much new policy impetus. Key Commissioners for the FIA will be those responsible for transport, energy, environment, consumer policy and tourism, but also issues such as competition and industry. In fact, protecting the interests of car users and drivers means that FIA has to keep up to speed with a much wider range of commissioners.
Lisbon Treaty changes playing field
Despite the doubts following Ireland's rejection, in a June 2008 referendum, of the Lisbon Treaty, it looks increasingly likely that 2009 or 2010 will see the final adoption of a new constitution for the European Union. A soberly named document entitled the “Treaty Establishing the European Community on the Functioning of the European Union”, this Lisbon Treaty brings a number of important and long-lasting changes that should effect the fundamentals of how clubs and the FIA's European Bureau interact with the institutions.
One simple example is the oil price hikes in 2008. Under the Lisbon Treaty it would be possible for clubs to organise a so-called citizens' initiative, for instance, to call for Commission action to deal with the increasing proportion of the oil price hike that was claimed by governments in taxes. Like the European Parliament and the Council, one million citizens could join together to call on the European Commission to put forward an “appropriate proposal”. These million citizens must come from a “significant” number of member states and their proposal must essentially be required to implement the European treaties. A fitting challenge for clubs, given their unique organisation and contacts, would be organising a million car drivers across Europe on a common issue.
Another important change for clubs' lobbying concerns the principle of dialogue with civil society. Now, EU institutions have to give citizens and representative associations the opportunity to make known and publicly exchange their views in all areas of Union action. This means maintaining an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society. The Commission, too, must also carry out broad consultations with those concerned. The FIA European Bureau, backed by clubs, should benefit from more open lobbying especially as closed-doors politics has often favoured those car manufacturers best able to pull strings within important national ministries. Linked to this is the principle of equality enshrined in the new Treaty. This principle entails that citizens must get “equal attention” from the EU institutions, agencies and offices (Article 8 TEU).
One good piece of news for clubs, as far as lobbying Brussels on transport matters is concerned, is that member states will find it hard to wriggle out of provisions made under the normal EU legislative process. The new treaty gets rid of the possibility for Member states to claim an exception (opt out) from normal "co-decision" procedures whereby both Parliament and member states decide together. Currently, the legislative process allows member states to invoke an exception, or derogation by claiming that the proposed EU measures could have a negative effect on living conditions and employment in specific areas and on the use of transport equipment. Henceforth, under the Lisbon Treaty that will no longer be the case. Currently, the majority of the EU's transport legislation falls under “co-decision” that means both EU member states and the European Parliament have an equal say. Member states have to adopt measures by qualified majority votes in the Council of Ministers.
For more information: contact Caroline Ofoegbu
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