Commission outlines interactive policy-making plans
The European Commission has outlined a new plan to improve governance by using the Internet to collect and analyse reactions to the marketplace to discussions of European Union policy. 'This initiative will be used to evaluate existing EU policies and for open consultations on new initiatives,' reports the Commission. It intends to start applying the system by the end of this year. The concept forms part of the 'eCommission' initiative and is also linked to its initiatives on governance and regulatory policy. The Commission hopes the initiative will help to modernise its administration helping it respond more quickly and accurately to citizen, consumer and business demands. 'To be a modern regulator, we need new ways of consulting stakeholders, for example through increased use of the Internet,' commented Enterprise and information society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen. The interactive policy making initiative involves the development of two Internet-based mechanisms: - A feedback mechanism which helps to collect spontaneous reactions in the marketplace, using existing networks and contact points as intermediaries, in order to obtain continuous access to the opinions and experiences of economic operators and EU citizens; and - A consultation mechanism which will allow the more rapid and structures collection of stakeholders' reactions to new initiatives. The Commission hopes these mechanisms will enhance its ability to assess the impact of EU policies on the ground and to evaluate proposals for new actions. And it hopes it will improve its reaction times and focus on problems and issues as they emerge. Citizens, consumers and businesses will be invited to participate in on-line consultations on new initiatives. The Commission is also open to cooperation with representative organisations and it is, in this context, examining the possibility of cooperation with Eurochambers on its European Business panel project.