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To describe the true nature of the European Union resembles the old Hindu tale about the wise man who was asked to describe the true nature of God. He replied: "It is like describing a white elephant to a blind man. Touching the elephant in the front with the hand gives a different impression that touching it at the back
- and how do you describe white?" There is not one simple answer, it is dependent on your perspective and prejudices.
If you analyse the EU by looking at the EU budget, the impression is that of an agricultural organisation with some side activities. If the main experience of EU is the paper work, the complicated rules and the slow decision making in projects, the impression is EU being a giant inaccessible mammoth. The giant palaces and the endless corridors in the EU institutions in Brussels give similar impressions.
Understanding EU as an administrative organisation may lead to the wrong track. EU can be better understood if you regard it as an ever-changing process, affecting all
nations, authorities, |
organisations and citizens.
The economic factors have often been very important when assessing the advantages of EU. What can I earn in terms of money by EU membership? Perhaps you have to go beyond the immediate money aspects to really assess the advantage of EU. Security, peace and co-operation are important factors. EU, like democracy, is something more than just a set of rules. The Union is constantly promoting the idea of a European identity.
There has been a strong tendency regarding the power and influence of EU in recent years, especially since the Maastricht Treaty. The national, governmental level in EU is losing power in two directions: Up, to Brussels and the EU Institutions and the EU bureaucracy, and down, to local and regional governments and the new co-operation bodies between these authorities, for example EU regions.
EU influences local and regional authorities very much both regarding the daily |
work as well as strategic development. Most cities in EU countries have changed their organisation and/or working methods as a consequence of the membership. It has also encouraged direct foreign contacts without interference from national authorities.
There are great expectations on the new geopolitical situation when the Baltic Sea Region will become an inland sea of the European Union. However, there is a need for cities to be active in order to be able to utilise the benefits of membership. One way to do that is to support a strong UBC to be a spokesman for the local authority level in our region.
This issue of the Baltic Cities Bulletin shows some of the activities and efforts of the cities to prepare for the enlargement. The work will intensify, and UBC wants to become an important supporter of the member cities in this work.
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EU-accession and the adoption of the "acquis communitaire" has a considerable impact at all levels of the society, including regional and local levels where political decisions and regulations directly affect the individual citizen.
Local and regional level preparations for EU-membership have to be carried out in two dimensions: on the national level by representatives of municipalities during the negotiations on acquis communautaire´, and within the municipalities in preparing for adjusting to new rules, building up competencies and taking advantage of new possibilities.
The implementation of EU law is predominantly carried out within the framework of the national legislative process. It is nevertheless important to
realise
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that the process of both formal and informal negotiations and lobbying relating to the contents of new EU-law now involves more actors than before. Also local and regional actors must be involved in this.
I would like to mention eight areas on which municipalities and regions should focus their interests in preparing for a future in an EU-memberstate.
Public procurement
Local and regional authorities are significant public procurers. The large internal market therefore offers ample possibilities for substantial cost savings through
EU-wide call for tenders. You can read more about this in a separate article in this issue
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The structural funds
European programmes are strictly objective-oriented. They are based on a programme planning period of far more than a year, with measures deigned for an implementing period of several years. EU programmes will be changed regarding emphasis, funding etc. as stated in the Agenda 2000, but compliance with certain principles should be required during the negotiation process:
Partnership: Close co-ordination between the EU Commission and relevant authorities at national, regional and local level through all phases of the programme planning must be guaranteed. To some extent social partners and NGO´s should be included as well.
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