The report on the Consultation on devolution is now available.
Members of the Subsidiarity Expert Group (SEG) have been invited by Mr Schausberger (AT/EPP), rapporteur for the own-initiative opinion on "Devolution in the European Union and the place for local and regional self-government in EU policy making and delivery", to participate in a consultation.
On the basis of his Working Document (CdR 2214/2012) which will be presented to the CIVEX Commission on 4 December 2012, Mr Schausberger would like to seek their expertise and experience with regard to the subsidiarity principle through the following questions:
Mr Schausberger would like to seek thei expertise and experience with regard to the subsidiarity principle through the following questions:
1. Do you agree with the thesis presented in the working document that a proper application of the subsidiarity principle, within the EU but also at national level, involves effective and functional self-governance at the local and regional level?
If yes, could you please provide empirical evidence from your Member State/ region, which supports this view?
2. Do you agree with the assumption that subsidiarity as a political and legal principle may act as a driver for decentralisation, in the sense that it can act as an incentive for central governments to locate powers and resources at the level where decision making would bring the optimal results?
If this is the case, can you provide empirical evidence from your Member State/ region, which supports this view?
3. Do you believe that more decentralisation and stronger local and regional self-government could enhance the position of the Committee of the Regions and LRA, in particular regional parliaments with legislative powers, in monitoring compliance of EU legislation with the subsidiarity principle?
4. Would you suggest any other connection between subsidiarity and decentralisation/devolution than those highlighted in the Working Document?
The consultation will run until 21 December 2012, in order to enable the rapporteur to use the Experts' input while drafting the opinion. Contributions may be submitted in English or German and will be forwarded to the rapporteur as they come and a summary will be drawn up at the beginning of January.
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