The Committee of the Regions

Résumé du document

The construction of the European Union is, and has always been done by states. Since the Maastricht treaty however, sub national authorities have an official advisory body from which they can influence the making of the European policy: the Committee of the regions. This committee is made of 317 members; each country has a representation corresponding to its population. This month, the committee celebrates its 12th birthday. On that occasion, I will try to see how effective the Committee of the regions is at providing an effective representation of the local and regional authorities at Union level. To do that, I will first see how the Committee works, how it is composed, what its problems are. Then I will turn to its relations with the European institutions which will allow us to estimate its possible influence. Finally, I will look at its actions and what impact they were perceived to have.

Extraits

[...] This committee is made of 317 members; each country has a representation corresponding to its population. This month, the committee celebrates its 12th birthday. On that occasion, I will try to see how effective the Committee of the regions is at providing an effective representation of the local and regional authorities at Union level. To do that, I will first see how the Committee works, how it is composed, what its problems are. Then I will turn to its relations with the European institutions which will allow us to estimate its possible influence. [...]

[...] To conclude, even though the Committee of the regions has a weak institutional role, it is doing quite well regarding the difficulties and boundaries it faces. The Committee of the regions has managed to establish good working relationship that might lead it to become a more important role in the making of European policy in the future since it is ever improving and conscious of its weaknesses. Committee of the regions does represent the regions but still lacks the impact that its opinions should have considered that of all the European legislation is implemented at the local and regional level. [...]

[...] another critic made against the Committee of the regions for not being an effective representation before Nice took effect (2003) members did not have to be elected or accountable to an elective body lack of legitimacy. Members independent? National list accepted by council but Yes, except in Ireland where the selection is done nationally, the other state let the subnational units carry that process and do not interfere. + Committee of the regions does not have to submit its rules of procedure for the Council to approve them anymore. [...]

[...] That way, the Committee of the regions' representation is becoming more effective, more structured and unified. We can now turn to look at the general weaknesses and achievements of the Committee. First its weaknesses: its opinions do not always have the expected impact. The commission urges the Committee of the regions to base its opinions more on expert knowledge so they are not empty and vague. it is also hard to evaluate the real impact of its opinions because the European Commission has a number of bodies trying to influence its decisions⋄ hard to know exactly the Committee of the regions' role even though the Commission does give feedback. [...]

[...] Urban Studies, 37/5-6: 877-894 Loughlin, John Representing Regions in Europe: the Committee of the Regions. Regional and Federal Studies 147-165 McCarthy, Rosarie The Committee of the Regions: An Advisory's body's tortuous Path to Influence. Journal of European Public Policy 4/3:439-454 Warleigh Alex The Committee of the Regions. London: Kogan Page pp. [...]