The 222 members of the Committee of the Regions are not directly elected by the people. The Council3appoints them for a four year term on proposal of the member states.4Each member state itself decides how to chose the representatives in the CoR: Some of the countries, like Germany, Austria and, to a certain extend, Spain, leave this matter to the regions and the municipalities themselves.5One example, how the representatives can be elected, is to be seen in the German region (Land) Schleswig-Holstein. Like in every German Land, the Landtag, the directly elected regional parliament, decides about the representative in the CoR. In 2001, the members of the parliament voted for minister-president Heide Simonis.6So, the directly elected members of the parliament decided who should represent the people’s interest on the European level. Indirectly, everybody had an influence on the decision by taking part on the regional election.
On the other hand, in some states, like France and the United Kingdom, the national government decides about the members of the Committee of the Regions.7In the United Kingdom, the Foreign Office co-ordinates the list of its 24 full and alternate members in the Committee of the Regions. It is able to appoint members form the range of UK local authorities but also from the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland and the Welsh Assembly.8
According to the rules of the CoR, the representatives send to the institution should reflect the political, geographical and regional/local balance in the respective member state.9Although e.g. the UK government says that the political and regional balance are considered when the members of the Committee are appointed10, the regions and municipalities do not have the power to decide on their own who should represent the region’s interest on the European level. Their representative does not necessarily reflect the political colour of the majority in the region when the central government appoints the members of the CoR without having to consider the regions themselves.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Committee of the Regions
- Is the Committee of the Regions undemocratic?
- Is the Committee of the Regions a talking workshop to give the idea of consultation and decentralisation?
- Gives the Committee of the Regions failed politicians and ideas a resting home?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the statement that the Committee of the Regions is an undemocratic talking workshop designed to give the impression of consultation and decentralisation and to give failed politicians and ideas a resting home. The essay evaluates the different aspects of the statement step by step, discussing the Committee's structure, election process, powers, role, and influence on decision-making.
- The democratic structure of the Committee of the Regions
- The Committee's role in consultation and decentralisation
- The influence of the Committee on decision-making in the European Union
- The role of the Committee in providing a platform for regional and local interests
- The diversity of regional traditions and their impact on the Committee's composition and influence
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section introduces the essay's objective, which is to evaluate the statement regarding the Committee of the Regions. It outlines the structure of the essay, covering the Committee's description, election process, powers, and role, along with an assessment of its importance for the regions.
- The Committee of the Regions: This chapter provides an overview of the Committee's origin, purpose, and composition. It emphasizes the Committee's advisory role and its formal rights of consultation, while highlighting its lack of initiative or veto powers. The chapter also mentions the Committee's obligation to be consulted by the European Commission on matters within its competence.
- Is the Committee of the Regions undemocratic?: This chapter delves into the election process of the Committee's members, highlighting the indirect nature of their selection. It compares the different approaches adopted by various member states, including the involvement of regional and local authorities, and the role of national governments in appointing representatives. The chapter examines the potential for democratic shortcomings in the system and discusses the impact of the Nice Treaty on the composition of the Committee.
- Is the Committee of the Regions a talking workshop to give the idea of consultation and decentralisation?: This chapter explores the Committee's advisory function and its role in promoting local and regional interests. It examines the "subsidiarity principle" and the Committee's involvement in areas like economic and social cohesion, transport, telecommunications, and environmental policy. The chapter also discusses the limitations of the Committee's powers and the potential for its influence on decision-making.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key topics and concepts discussed in this essay include: Committee of the Regions, European Union, regional policy, decentralisation, democracy, consultation, decision-making, subsidiarity principle, regional interests, national government, political accountability, and the role of regions in European governance.
- Quote paper
- Oliver Hedderich (Author), 2003, Decentralisation within the EU: Committee of the Regions - an undemocratic talking workshop?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/57274
