What Role for the European Commission in the New Governance of the Economic and Monetary Union
01 Jan 2013-
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose a legal framework for the European Commission to provide financial assistance to Member States experiencing major economic difficulties, the overview of national budgetary decisions and, to a lesser extent, actions to foster economic growth.
Abstract: In recent years, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have tried to offer credible responses to the financial and economic crisis often outside the EU legal order and with a significant impact on the constitutional framework and on the institutional balance of the Union itself. Many of these reforms concern the Commission, which has been entrusted with new tasks mainly related to the provision of financial assistance to Member States experiencing major economic difficulties, the overview of national budgetary decisions and, to a lesser extent, actions to foster economic growth. In some areas - like the new rules on fiscal discipline - the Commission has gained strong powers vis-a-vis the Member States. The solutions found raise many legal concerns and may alter long-standing balances between institutions. Furthermore, they are clearly inspired by intergovernmentalism and principally conceived within intergovernmental structures like the European Council. In this context, the Commission still constitutes the last reliable driving force towards a genuine European project and it is called to play an extremely delicate role to safeguard the common interest of EU and of the Eurozone.
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TL;DR: The authors analyzes how EU social objectives and policy coordination have been integrated into the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Union's emerging post-crisis architecture of economic governance, based on published and unpublished documents as well as interviews with high-level policy makers.
Abstract: This paper analyzes how EU social objectives and policy coordination have been integrated into the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Union’s emerging post-crisis architecture of economic governance. Based on published and unpublished documents as well as interviews with high-level policy makers, the paper argues that since 2011, there has been a progressive ‘socialization’ of the ‘European Semester’ of policy coordination, in terms of an increasing emphasis on social objectives and targets in the EU’s priorities and country-specific recommendations; an intensification of social monitoring, multilateral surveillance, and peer review; and an enhanced role for social and employment actors, especially the Employment and Social Protection Committees. The paper interprets these developments not only as a response by the Commission and other EU institutions to rising social and political discontent among European citizens with the consequences of post-crisis austerity policies, but also as a product of reflexive learning and creative adaptation by social and employment actors to the new institutional conditions of the European Semester: another form of ‘socialization’.
94 citations
Dissertation•
15 Sep 2017
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion of the role of the Derecho in the context of economic and financiero reformas in the ambito economic and finance in the Eurozone is presented.
Abstract: Diferenciamos tres objetivos a los que responde el subtitulo y cada una de las tres partes en que se ha estructurado el trabajo: (1) contextos, (2) normas, (3) crisis.
Primero. Tratamiento contextualizado.
Como primer objetivo o elemento de singularidad, se procede a la contextualizacion historica del largo plazo o larga historia internacional y financiera. Ello permitira comprender y enfatizar algunas dinamicas juridicas y politicas (realpolitik) que quedan con frecuencia desatendidas en estudios meramente positivistas que responden a la logica de la solucion de problemas juridicos sin tratar el Derecho en su contexto historico y filosofico. A todo ello se dedica la primera parte.
Segundo. Derecho positivo.
La segunda parte responde al objetivo autonomo de cartografiar el selvatico tejido de medidas regulatorias y de caracter ejecutivo en el ambito economico y financiero europeo posterior a la crisis. Tambien responde a la necesidad de tener presente ese panorama regulatorio a la hora de analizar los problemas de gobierno que se trata en la tercera parte. Con estos objetivos en mente se repasan los tres pilares del gobierno economico y financiero: monetario, fiscal y financiero stricto sensu.
Tercero. Crisis de la juridificacion democratica del poder economico.
Finalmente, como aspecto nuclear del trabajo, se trata de plantear como afecta la transformacion de la economia politica global y, especialmente, la ruptura de la dicotomia nacional-internacional al constitucionalismo definido como proyecto de racionalizacion del poder mediante el Derecho democratico. Esta problematica se trata mediante el analisis diferenciado de dos problemas de gobierno economico europeo.
El primero es el problema de las capacidades de gobierno economico y financiero europeo conforme al actual statu quo. Es este un problema vinculado al transito desde el Estado nacion al proyecto europeo de comunidad de Derecho supraestatal. Se trata del agotamiento de las posibilidades de los principios clasicos, en particular, del de primacia, para articular las relaciones entre los ordenamientos estatales y el europeo, unido a un desarrollo del principio de identidad constitucional que parece limitar las posibilidades de la atribucion de competencias. Ello puede resultar especialmente disfuncional en el ambito financiero, especialmente si tenemos en cuenta que a la hora de disenar la arquitectura de la UEM se opto por una union monetaria sin union fiscal, lo que puede generar asimetrias, rigideces y debilidades adicionales, especialmente en tiempos de tension financiera. Puede avanzarse que resulta muy dudoso que, al menos en este ambito, el dialogo judicial ad hoc, a partir de la modulacion del principio de identidad constitucional, sea una solucion satisfactoria ni en cuanto a la agilidad que proporciona al proceso de toma de decisiones, ni, sobre todo, en cuanto al peso que en el arreglo entre tribunales puedan tener los factores estrategicos (la realpolitik, por ejemplo, la relacion entre deudores y acreedores).
El segundo problema aparece vinculado al acoplamiento nacional y europeo a la globalizacion economica. Se trata de la aparicion de lo que Sassen denomina nueva normatividad global y de su implantacion mediante distintos mecanismos juridicos que pueden calificarse de gobierno limitado, en tanto que incorporan una consideracion restrictiva de la intervencion del Estado. Asi, los gobiernos se encuentran ante un achicamiento del ambito constitucionalmente disponible para las distintas alternativas de politica economica. Entre estos mecanismos juridicos destacan en el ambito transnacional, los regimenes internacionales, el llamado soft law o los procesos de regionalizacion entre los que el europeo resulta paradigmatico. En el ambito europeo, el mecanismo juridico que propicia ese achicamiento de las opciones es resultado de una mutacion constitucional –en buena medida de inspiracion alemana-, desde una constitucion economica neutra a otra de caracter sustantivo que prima lo privativo. Mas en concreto, en el ambito financiero esta nueva normatividad que se implanta como limite a la accion de gobierno se extiende mediante una determinada demarcacion de funciones entre lo publico y lo privado que se convierte en paradigma pretendidamente inmutable, cuando se trata, en verdad, de un conjunto de decisiones historicas a partir de las cuales el Estado organiza su propia retirada.
Ambos problemas se entrelazan en la medida en que limitan las capacidades de gobierno, pero, en tanto que tales limitaciones traen causa de procesos y mecanismos diferentes, metodologicamente requieren el tratamiento diferenciado que en este trabajo se ofrece.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the Commission acted as a "purposeful opportunist" in both tiers of crisis response, but whereas in economic governance issues there was breakthrough change in the Commission's achievements and competences, in the Single Market realm policy change was fairly modest.
Abstract: The economic and financial crisis opened a window of opportunity to place the Single Market back on top of the European agenda as part of a two-tiered crisis response, which also included reinforced financial supervision and economic co-ordination. We argue that the Commission acted as a ‘purposeful opportunist’ in both tiers; but whereas in economic governance issues there was breakthrough change in the Commission's achievements and competences, in the Single Market realm policy change was fairly modest. Using process tracing analysis our goal is to explain why the Commission did not succeed in furthering a genuine Single Market reform. Our findings suggest that the Commission's entrepreneurship was constrained by the limited salience of Single Market issues in the crisis context and by the lack of actual political commitment from the other relevant stakeholders. Thus, our research highlights the limits of the Commission's opportunistic behaviour in less advantageous circumstances.
14 citations
Cites background from "What Role for the European Commissi..."
...The economic governance reform equipped the Commission with wider and deeper implementation tasks of high political importance (Bauer and Becker, 2014, 2016; Cisotta, 2013; Schwarzer, 2012), which increased its potential for autonomous action (Niemann and Ioannou, 2015, p. 23)....
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...The economic governance reform equipped the Commission with wider and deeper implementation tasks of high political importance (Bauer and Becker, 2014, 2016; Cisotta, 2013; Schwarzer, 2012), which increased its potential for autonomous action (Niemann and Ioannou, 2015, p....
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...Whereas a burgeoning literature addresses the Commission’s achievements in the EG area (Bauer and Becker, 2014, 2016; Beach, 2013; Camisão, 2015; Cisotta, 2013; * This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), under Grant…...
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...The Commission is interacting with Member States to drive change, as well as to set their future economic agenda (Cisotta, 2013, p. 13)....
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01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: In this article, a conceptual framework was proposed to examine natural resource management in Turkey, Morocco and Italy and its implications for social and economic development, and a series of indicators aimed at assessing the dimensions of the management and use of natural resources.
Abstract: In the framework of the IAI-OCP Policy Center project this paper offers a conceptual framework to examine natural resource management in Turkey, Morocco and Italy and its implications for social and economic development. It recognizes the multiplicity of actors involved in natural resource management at the local, national and global level. It then proceeds by 1) advancing a definition of natural resources to be used in the context of this project; 2) highlighting relevant emerging issues in the empirical debates on natural resource management within economics and politics; 3) developing a series of indicators aimed at assessing the dimensions of the management and use of natural resources. In general, this conceptual framework adopts a flexible and plural approach that reflects the multidisciplinary nature of natural resource management, and recognizes the importance of country-specific factors in the relationship between natural resource management and socio-economic development.
10 citations
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: The recent public administration turn in European Union studies has not only produced an overwhelming richness of empirical studies on individual organizations such as the European Commission, regulatory agencies, and various types of committees, but also created an inspiring perspective on the administrative system of the EU.
Abstract: The recent ‘public administration turn’ (Trondal, 2007) in European Union (EU) studies has not only produced an overwhelming richness of empirical studies on individual organizations such as the European Commission, regulatory agencies, and various types of committees, more importantly it has created an inspiring perspective on the administrative system of the EU (see in particular Egeberg, 2006; Ellinas and Suleiman, 2008, 2012; Hof mann and Turk, 2006; Trondal, 2010). As a result of intensified integration, we are witnessing the emergence of a new form of compound ‘executive order’ in Europe, which integrates various types of supranational, national, and subnational organizations (Trondal, 2010). The new research perspective of fers a comprehensive view of the EU’s administrative system and allows key questions in the field of public administration to be addressed in an innovative way. This pertains to the structuring of the ‘administrative space’ (Olsen, 2003) within the EU, its internal conflicts and dynamics, its external environment and demands, its effectiveness and efficiency, and its accountability and legitimacy.
9 citations
References
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, a European constitutional lawyer's view, the soundness of the reforms already at proposal stage, as well as the emergency activity currently undertaken, may be called into question, as core rules of the Treaties are disrespected.
Abstract: Economic governance in the EU has been undergoing substantial changes since the beginning of the sovereign debt crisis. The re-arrangements are affecting the convergence of European economies, budgetary control and emergency reactions. Some of them are still at proposal stage, such as the "sixpack" proposed by the Commission for a series of legislative measures on convergence and budgetary surveillance, which is still under scrutiny in Parliament and which is accompanied by activity of the European Council (Euro-Plus-Pact, European Semester). Emergency action is being undertaken since May 2010 (Greek package, EFSM, EFSF) and should lead to a newly inserted provision in the TFEU together with a new international financial institution (ESM). From a European constitutional lawyer's view, the soundness of the reforms already at proposal stage, as well as the emergency activity currently undertaken, may be called into question. European constitutionalism is at stake, as core rules of the Treaties are disrespected. Democratic governance is threatened, as most of the new structures are devoid of parliamentary backing. Stability and welfare are jeopardized as the policy of the Union deviates from successful ways of economic governance as enshrined in the Treaties. European legal scholarship must not be reluctant in pointing at such deficiencies and should participate in showing ways out of the crisis.
115 citations
TL;DR: The European legitimacy discourse typically employs two principal concepts: input (process) legitimacy and output (result) legitimacy, and political messianism is central to the legitimation of Europe, though less commonly explored as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: European legitimacy discourse typically employs two principal concepts: input (process) legitimacy and output (result) legitimacy. But a third concept, political messianism, is central to the legitimation of Europe, though less commonly explored. In the current European circumstance, however, each of these three concepts is inoperable. Any solution to the crisis of Europe will have to draw upon the deep legitimacy resources of the national communities, the member states.
105 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, Thomas Pringle v. Government of Ireland, Ireland, The Attorney General and The Minister for Foreign Affairs and theAttorney General, Judgment of the Court of Justice (Full Court) of 27 November 2012.
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Posted Content•
TL;DR: The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance (the TSCG) as discussed by the authors was signed by 25 contracting states in March 2012, and its legal form and content are discussed.
Abstract: The EU financial crisis has generated a range of economic, political and legal responses. This article focuses on one such response, the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance (the TSCG), which was signed by 25 contracting states in March 2012. The discussion begins with the political background to the TSCG, which is essential in order to understand its legal form and content. This is followed by an outline of its principal provisions. There is then more detailed discussion of the core elements of the TSCG, the “balanced budget” rule and the correction mechanism, in order to determine what they add to the existing rules and assess their efficacy.The focus then shifts to broader issues of principle. The TSCG is of interest not merely for those concerned with economic and monetary union. It raises more fundamental issues of principle concerning the legitimacy of states, together with EU institutions, proceeding outside the confines of the Lisbon Treaty to attain goals that cannot be achieved through normal methods of Treaty amendment. It generates important inquiries concerning the extent to which a Treaty outside the confines of the Lisbon Treaty can confer new powers on EU institutions, and whether existing powers of EU institutions can be used in such a context. It entails significant issues concerning the way in which we interpret provisions of the Lisbon Treaty concerning the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that are directly relevant to the schema of the TSCG. The article concludes by reflecting on some broader legal and political ramifications of the TSCG.
55 citations