‘Better regulation: a regional perspective’

Progress on better regulation is urgent, as it is a crucial aspect of the drive to make Europe more competitive and boost economic growth, according to an European Policy Centre issue paper supported by the Scottish Executive, which further argues that the transposition and implementation of EU Directives is an essential part of this agenda.

A number of steps could be taken to improve the way that regions, national governments and European institutions work together to raise EU governance standards, outlines the paper. 

Over the past two decades, the role of the regions in European policymaking and the transposition and implementation of EU legislation has grown significantly. The devolution of power has successfully safeguarded the principle of subsidiarity, states the report, adding that the empowerment of the regions has resulted in better scrutiny, transposition, and implementation of EU legislation. 

Nevertheless, the authors highlight the fact that in certain policy areas, it is not clear whether responsibility for transposing EU Directives lies solely with the regional authorities, with the national government, or whether it is shared between the two. Furthermore, Directives are interpreted differently in different regions, and are not always implemented in a manner that reflects the original spirit of the legislation. 

The authors therefore recommend that each region create a specific transposition and monitoring unit, with a wide range of competencies. Formal systems should be put in place to identify which Directives should be transposed at regional level, which should be transposed centrally, and which are a shared competence. The paper also notes than an increased awareness of the importance of EU policy as an integral part of regional policy is required if such action is to be successful. 

Meanwhile, the Commission should use a clearer language when drafting Directives, pay more attention to the timing of the provision of guidelines on transposing objectives to ensure they are published at the same time as the directive itself, and improve contact with the regions, states the report.