An analysis of the effectiveness of the Maltese EU policy co-ordinating mechanism

Abstract

The sphere of European integration has imposed even greater demands for co ordination on its MS, adding new pressures and intensifying the existing ones. Malta's EU membership on 1st of May 2004 demanded a change in its overall structures and processes and the top-down process was replaced by the bottom-up approach. This required a change in our culture since it demanded responsibility to take decisions at technical level rather than at higher levels. This thesis explores various problems confronted by MS when co-ordinating EU policy and their effectiveness. It has always been important for MS to be present at all stages of the critical policy process, particularly in the initial phase of legislation and especially in areas of national concern. However, every MS has developed its own system and differences in the style of co-ordination at national level which is mirrored in Brussels. Within this context, several capabilities can be identified. These are the ability to anticipate new EU legislation and its impact at domestic level, the ability to shape. the EU policy agenda, to translate EU legislation into national law and finally to implement it. However, effectiveness cannot be judged only according to the nature and resources of co-coordinating systems, but it must also be related to the nature of the issue and to the requirements of EU domestic policy-making. It can be political and constitutional or bureaucratic and technical, whether it is urgent and reactive or simply routinized. Moreover, it may be connected to the requirements of EU domestic policy making. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate effectiveness according to a number of states' capacities. Nevertheless given all the problems of coordination, it is quite surprising how much it is carried out. Although, co-ordination maybe be important in some respects, it does not necessarily mean that if a centralised co-ordination is absent, it results in a disruptive or dysfunctional system. Fragmented systems like the German scenario still manage to influence the EU agenda.