Resolution of the EEA Consultative Committee of 26 June 2002 on governance and corporate social responsibility in a globalised world
Date: 2002-06-26
Institutions: European Economic Area
Subjects: company constituted under civil law, cooperation policy, drafting of EU law, globalisation, governance, legislation, social role, transparency in decision-making, type of business

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RESOLUTION OF THE EEA CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

of 26 June 2002

on governance and corporate social responsibility in a globalised world

(2003/C 58/08)

1. Background

The Consultative Committee of the European Economic
1.1.
Area (EEA-CC) is composed of representatives of the key socio-
economic interest groups in the 18 EEA Member States. The
Committee acts as a voice for workers, employers and other
actors of organised civil society in these countries and forms
part of the EEA institutional set-up.

concept of democracy, with a

Academics argue that 1992 marked the end of the
2.5.
from
traditional
national government to negotiated agreement-based governance.
The last decade has witnessed a change from a constitutional
system in which national parliaments were dominant to a
collaborative and associative system of international regulatory
governance.

change

The following resolution on governance and corporate
1.2.
the
responsibility in a globalised world was adopted at
social
Iceland, on 26
10th meeting of the EEA-CC in Egilsstadir,
June 2002. The rapporteurs were Ms Åse Erdal
from the
EFTA Consultative Committee (CSC), and Mr Uno Westerlund
from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Scepticism about European governance may be rooted
2.6.
in people's mistrust of the agreement-based functioning of the
European Union. People feel more confidence in the traditional
functioning of the nation-state and its government structure,
possibly because they believe those structures are more
accountable.

2. From European Government to ‘European Governance’

The globalisation of markets over recent decades has
2.1.
led to changes in the way societies are governed.
In brief,
the parliament-based government of societies has partly been
taken over by ‘agreement-based’ governance. This evolution is
evident at all
local, regional, national, European and
global.

levels:

2.7.
The European Commission has addressed — in the
issue of
words of Commission President Prodi — the
‘European democracy and how it works, why it doesn't work
better and what its prospects are.’ In doing so, the Commission
focuses on the sense of malaise and alienation that many
the European Union. Despite its
Europeans
achievements,
there is a strong sense of uncertainty about
what the Union is and what it aspires to become, about its
geographic boundaries,
its political objectives and the way
these powers are shared with Member States.

feel vis-à-vis

represents

Government

the classic form of

2.2.
state
government based upon an institutional hierarchy and policy
of rules and regulations. Governance is a form of government
where groups or individuals from different institutions, organi-
sations, organs, enterprises and levels work in networks and in
public and private partnership. On the basis of dialogue,
negotiations
construct
agreements and contracts that form the decisive framework
for future decision-making (1).

and bargaining procedures,

they

2.8.
The EEA Consultative Committee (EEA-CC) appreciates
the fact that the European Commission has started to examine
these
the
EEA-CC notes,
Commission's White Paper on Governance omits to discuss
the underlying problems of governance.

however,

issues.

that

The

2.3.
Agreement-based Governance is particularly developed
within the European Union where many aspects of sovereignty
have been pooled at the European level.

Agreement-based Governance partly circumvents the
2.4.
traditional parliament-based democratic societies, as they have
been known in Europe for the last century. Instead, societies
are increasingly governed on the basis of juridical contracts, as
represented in EU law and surveillance by the European
Commission.

2.9.
Five political principles underpin the Commission's
work on governance: openness, participation, accountability,
effectiveness and coherence. These principles should guide
the Union in the way it uses the powers given by its citizens
and in how it will push forward changes. The underlying
assumption is that a great deal can be accomplished by
carrying out reform under the present Treaty provisions. On
the other hand, it is acknowledged that separating the reform
of European governance from the broader debate on the future
of Europe triggered in Nice would be somewhat artificial, as
these processes are two sides of the same coin.

(1) Noralv Veggeland:

‘The EU Deficit of Legitimacy and Democracy:
The theoretical debate on conceptualisation’, University College
Research Report 81/2001.

The EEA-CC supports these five principles, whilst
2.10.
pointing out
they incorporate the elements usually
associated with the principles of democracy and transparency.

that

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3. New governance in the EU and its implications for the

EEA

3.1. General implications for the EEA

The

EU's

determination to improve

European
3.1.1.
governance may well trigger a wave of Governance reforms
throughout Europe. The EEA/EFTA States and the EEA
cannot be unaffected by such reforms.
It is clear that any
renewal of political processes and decision-making systems in
the Union will have implications for the EEA. New EU legis-
lation with relevance for the internal market must be incor-
porated into the EEA Agreement and, thus, the way in which
decisions are reached in the EU, as well as the quality, effec-
tiveness and simplicity of legislation, have a bearing on the
EEA. Moreover, the drive for more openness and publicity in
the EU should spread also to the EEA cooperation.

The EEA-CC calls on the European Commission to
3.1.2.
give specific consideration to the likely impact which the
changes in the EU's political processes will have on the func-
tioning of the EEA.

3.2. Better involvement and more openness

3.2.1. Publicity and debate

3.2.1.1.
Democracy depends on people being able to take
part in public debate. To do this, they must have access to
reliable information and be able to scrutinise the policy process
in its various stages. The EEA-CC therefore welcomes the
Commission's proposal that measures be taken to make the
working methods of
the European institutions more trans-
parent and better communicated. The more open policy-
making is at EU level, the easier it will be for the general
public, social partners, civil society organisations and other
political stakeholders in Europe to help shape and deliver EU
objectives and measures and to understand them in their
entirety and assess them fairly.

3.2.1.2.
The working methods in the EEA cooperation are
somewhat opaque and public access to most EEA documents is
very limited. This does not help people to gain insights into the
EEA Agreement and to understand how it works. The EEA-CC
therefore calls for greater transparency in the EEA and a reform
of the rules and guidelines for public access to EEA documents.
Furthermore, steps should be taken to involve non-govern-
mental actors, such as the social partners, more in the work
of the EEA.

3.2.1.3.
At the same time, the political aspects of the EEA
Agreement and its implications at national, regional and local
level are not sufficiently highlighted in the EEA/EFTA States. A
legalistic and ‘non-political’ view of the EEA agreement has
adverse effects on the understanding of and hence democratic
debate on European issues at all political levels.

3.2.2. Local and regional actors

policy-shaping at EU level, as well as closer cooperation in the
implementation of EU legislation. The White Paper emphasises
in particular the European associations of regional and local
the Regions. The
government and the EU's Committee of
in the
Associations of Local
and Regional Authorities
EEA/EFTA States would,
through their membership in the
Council of European Municipalities and Regions, get a greater
say in EU policy shaping with the increased weight of their
European umbrella organisation.

3.2.2.2.
However, the Committee of the Regions did not yet
exist at the time of the negotiation of the EEA Agreement, and
thus there are no provisions in the Agreement regarding coop-
eration between local and regional actors at EEA level. The
EEA-CC notes the lack of provisions in the EEA Agreement
regarding cooperation between local and regional demo-
cratically elected representatives at EEA level. Such provisions
would be helpful, given that local and regional governments
are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of
much EEA legislation.

The European Commission proposes, in the White
3.2.2.3.
Paper on Governance, the introduction of tripartite contracts
between European, national, regional and local authorities, as a
more flexible means of implementing European law. The intro-
duction of such new modalities will make the absence of
appropriate provisions for cooperation between local and
regional actors at EEA level even more difficult.

3.2.3. Civil society

Grassroots involvement

in all stages of policy-
3.2.3.1.
making is one of
the Commission.
the main concerns of
Grassroots influence is to be exercised, according to the
White Paper on Governance, via civil society organisations
and social partners acting within the framework of ‘structured
consultation procedures’. The EEA-CC strongly supports this
plan, at the same time as it would like to stress the urgency
of defining the civil dialogue, the qualitative and quantitative
criteria for representativeness and to make a clear distinction
between ‘civil dialogue’ and ‘social dialogue’.

The criteria of representativeness for the selection of
3.2.3.2.
organisations to take part
in the civil dialogue should be
defined in order to ensure transparency and a democratic
selection procedure. The EEA-CC supports
criteria
identified by the European Economic and Social Committee,
which European organisations must
to be
eligible (1).

in order

fulfil

the

The EEA-CC supports the Commission's proposal to
3.2.3.3.
set up an on-line database with details of civil society organi-
sations in order
to increase openness and structure their
dialogue with the institutions. For civil society actors in the
EEA/EFTA States, that are members of umbrella organisations
in the EU, intensified consultations will give a greater oppor-
tunity to make their voice heard on EEA-relevant matters.

3.2.2.1.
The White Paper on European Governance calls for
a more effective involvement of local and regional actors in

(1) CES 357/2002 Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on
European Governance — a White Paper (COM(2002) 428 final)

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3.2.4. The role of the European Economic and Social Committee

3.2.4.1.
The Governance White Paper points to the new role
of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) as a
bridge between the EU institutions and organised civil society,
and calls on the EESC to play a more pro-active role in shaping
policy (see changes to Article 257 of the EC Treaty agreed at
Nice).

3.2.4.2.
The EESC is the forum where civil dialogue is put
on an official footing. The EESC has continuously increased its
role as a forum for dialogue and consultation, as this is an
efficient way of involving in its work those parts of organised
civil society that are not currently represented by its members.
The Committee already does so by organising public events
and hearings.

3.2.4.3.
Through the Osmosis Procedure, the members of
the EFTA Consultative Committee can take part in all stages
of the EESC's work as observers, thus giving them access to EU
policy-shaping. This
is an example of very fruitful and
pragmatic EEA cooperation, which the EEA-CC strongly
supports.

3.2.5. Social partners

role of

the special

The EEA-CC attaches great importance to the fact
3.2.5.1.
that
the social partners within the
framework of organised civil society is made crystal-clear. It
therefore welcomes the White Paper's explicit reference to this
special role and the special influence of the social partners. The
task of the social partners within the framework of the Social
dialogue is an excellent example of the effective implemen-
tation of
the governance principle at European level. The
European Social Dialogue is a mechanism with quasi-legislative
powers according to Articles 137 and 138 of the Treaty. It is
clearly defined in terms of participants, powers and procedures
and has quasi-constitutional status (1).
It derives its distinc-
its
tiveness from the special powers and responsibilities of
participants playing their role in an autonomous way. For
this reason, their role and responsibilities cannot be transferred
to other policy areas or actors. Hence the EESC's repeated
reminder
to make a clear distinction
between ‘social dialogue’ and ‘civil dialogue’.

is vital

that

is

it

tutions and national authorities to improve their efforts to
consult better on EU policies, so as to complement decision-
making by the institutions. The EEA-CC underlines
the
importance of setting clear criteria to guarantee the representa-
tiveness and legitimacy of organisations to be consulted by the
Commission.

A new culture of consultation in the European
3.2.6.2.
local and
Commission would give citizens, social partners,
regional authorities, civil
society organisations and other
actors in the EEA/EFTA countries additional opportunities to
be heard in the phase of EU decision-shaping. The EEA-CC
urges the national authorities in the EEA/EFTA States to
support
different
EEA/EFTA players in the decision-shaping phase in order to
ensure that their views are known and taken into account in
the Commission's consultation processes.

active participation by

corresponding

3.3. Better policies, regulation and delivery

3.3.1. Simplification of legislation

to
for

legislation
scope

essential
implementing measures

The Commission has undertaken to limit
for
greater

its
3.3.1.1.
elements, while
proposals
providing
to
complete the technical details of those proposals. Moreover, a
programme will be launched to simplify further existing
Community legislation and encourage Member States
to
simplify the national rules, which give effect to EU provisions.
The EEA-CC supports the proposals of the White Paper to
simplify and speed up the European legislative process, as
Community rules are increasingly complex and sometimes
tend to add to existing national
than
actually simplifying and harmonising them. The EEA-CC calls
on the EEA/EFTA States to follow closely the work of the
European Commission and simplify the national rules, which
give effect to EU provisions.

regulations

rather

3.2.5.2.
Social partner organisations in the EEA/EFTA States
are members of the European employers' organisations, UNICE
and CEEP, as well as of the European Trade Union Confed-
eration (ETUC). As such, they participate directly in the cross-
sectoral social dialogue negotiations, which provide them with
a unique potential for influencing EU/EEA social
legislation.
This is of particular importance for countries that are not EU
members but must follow EU legislation.

3.2.6. More effective and transparent consultations

3.2.6.1.
Calling for a ‘reinforced culture of consultation and
dialogue’ the White Paper insists on the need for all EU insti-

(1) Articles 137 and 138 (EC).

3.3.2. Combining different policy instruments

In recent years, soft law and soft integration have
3.3.2.1.
supplemented the traditional EU method of
legal harmon-
isation. A clear shift has occurred from traditional regulations,
directives and decisions which, given their EEA relevance,
would be integrated into EEA legislation,
to new policy
instruments such as guidelines,
recommendations, co-regu-
latory mechanisms and the open method of coordination.
These cannot easily be incorporated into a legally binding
agreement such as the EEA Agreement. With the Commission's
determination to promote greater use of different policy tools,
as a complement to legislation, consideration must be given to
how the dynamism of the EEA Agreement can be maintained.
The EEA-CC calls on the EEA/EFTA States to take into account
non-legislative developments in the EU which have an impact
on the Internal Market or flanking policies, to ensure parallel
development and equal conditions of competition throughout
the EEA.

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3.3.3. Regulatory agencies

3.3.3.1. With the aim of improving the way in which rules
are applied and enforced across the Union, the Commission
wishes to boost the creation of sectoral regulatory agencies
with specific defined tasks, along the lines already established
in the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicines (1) and
the European Food Safety Authority. The EEA-CC highlights
the
securing
regulatory agencies, and
membership in new EEA-relevant
participating in the setting of criteria for their establishment.

EEA/EFTA States of

significance

the

for

The EEA-CC would, however,

3.3.3.2.
like to strike a
cautionary note as regards the proliferation of autonomous
European regulatory agencies. Before
setting up a new
agency, there should be clear evidence that it would bring
significant added value and would not increase red tape and
unjustified costs.

3.3.4. Expert Committees

3.3.4.1.
The complexity of the Union's system of expert
information about how they
committees and the lack of
work has led to a lack of public trust. With the purpose of
building public confidence in the way policy-makers use expert
advice, the Commission will develop guidelines to open up the
system for the use of experts to greater public scrutiny and
debate.

Article 99 of

3.3.4.2.
the EEA Agreement regulates the
preparatory and decision-shaping phase of the EEA decision-
making procedure. It provides that as soon as new legislation
starts being drawn up by the Commission in a field governed
by the EEA Agreement, the Commission is informally to seek
advice from experts of the EEA/EFTA States in the same way as
it seeks the advice of Community experts. The EEA-CC urges,
on the one hand, the Commission to make full use of Article
99 of the EEA Agreement, and on the other hand, national
authorities in the EEA/EFTA States to keep in close contact
with the Commission concerning the use of Article 99.

3.3.4.3.
The EEA-CC warmly welcomes a more open system
for the use of expert advice in EU policy-shaping, which will
give the public in the EEA improved possibilities for scruti-
nising the work of expert committees. The EEA-CC also
strongly supports the intention of the Commission to make
the expert advice taken available to the public. At the same
time,
to ensure
and active participation in all Commission
competent
committees open to EEA/EFTA participation.

the EEA/EFTA States

the EEA-CC urges

3.3.5. Better implementation and application of Community law at

national level

Ultimately the impact of

3.3.5.1.
rules
depends on the willingness and capacity of the EEA Member
they are transposed and
State authorities
fully and on time. With efforts by the
enforced effectively,

Internal Market

to ensure that

(1) The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicines (London)
makes a technical assessment of applications for the approval of
new medicines prior to a Commission decision.

Commission to step up investigations into possible breaches
of Community law in the EU Member States, the EEA/EFTA
States might also come under increased scrutiny by the EFTA
Surveillance Authority.

legislation,

In order to improve the quality of transposition and
3.3.5.2.
implementation of
the EEA/EFTA States could
contribute to improving the knowledge of Community/EEA
law among citizens, national courts and lawyers. The EEA-CC
calls on the EEA/EFTA States to participate in the EU's
proposed sharing of best practices regarding implementing
measures, in order to improve the quality and speed of trans-
position and implementation of legislation.

Not only enterprises, but also national, regional and
3.3.5.3.
to an increasing degree, affected by
local authorities are,
legislation, particularly the provisions on
internal market
competition and public aid.
Information about and under-
standing of this development is however not broad enough,
leading to, in a number of instances, insufficient application of
these legal provisions by authorities. The Committee therefore
urges the national authorities to take measures to improve this
situation.

3.4. Refocused policies and institutions

3.4.1. Community method

3.4.1.1.
To deliver better policies, the Union must revitalise
the Community method, according to the Commission. At the
same time, the introduction of measures for better consultation
and involvement, a more open use of expert advice, and
improved impact assessment, should lead to a more targeted
and selective use by the Commission of its right of political
initiative.

3.4.1.2.
A revitalisation of the Community method would
clearly be advantageous for the EEA/EFTA States, considering
that the EEA Agreement is based on the assumption that the
Community method is the main policy procedure in the
Community.

3.4.2. Comitology committees

those

the Commission adopts

3.4.2.1.
The main responsibility for executing policy and
legislation by adopting implementing regulations or decisions
is normally conferred on the Commission. The conditions
under which
executive
measures should be reviewed, according to the White Paper.
Where decisions are taken jointly by the Council and the
European Parliament,
should enjoy
equal roles in monitoring execution, at the same time as the
Commission must assume full executive responsibility. A
simple legal mechanism should allow the
to
scrutinise the actions of the Commission against the principles
and political guidelines adopted in the legislation. Thus, the
existing
and
management committees, would become obsolete.

those two institutions

committee

regulatory

legislature

structure,

notably

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for

the EEA/EFTA States. Pursuant

The prospect of reducing — or even phasing out —
3.4.2.2.
the formal comitology committee structure would have great
implications
to the
provisions of Article 100, the EEA Agreement has been the
gateway to EFTA participation in many of these committees.
For the EEA/EFTA States, participation in EC comitology is a
very important channel
the exchange of views and
information with experts in the EU Member States and in
the Commission. The EEA-CC expresses
for
EEA/EFTA participation in EC comitology committees and
calls on the EU side to ensure that
the
EEA/EFTA States are taken into account in a possible process
of reforming the comitology system.

the views of

support

for

its

4. Corporate governance and social responsibility

4.1.
Changing attitudes towards the role of business in
society, along with concerns about the impacts of globalisation,
have made corporate social responsibility (CSR) an increasingly
prominent issue. Trade unions, NGOs, media and the general
public as well as business itself have developed a growing
awareness of and interest
in companies' behaviour on a
range of social and environmental issues. There is an increasing
demand that companies be held accountable for any impact
their operations may have on environment and society, at
national as well as at international
level. This focus on the
various sides of corporate social responsibility has led to a
call for binding rules or recommendations on many aspects
of company behaviour.

generating

Any society is dependent on profitable and competitive
4.2.
enterprises
creating wealth and
employment,
contributing to sustaining the societies in which they operate.
This role is crucial and is at the core of business responsi-
bilities. Following the internationalisation and globalisation of
in to
business, however, new elements have been brought
broaden the scope. Emphasis is increasingly put not on the
results only, but on how these
financial
results were
focusing on company behaviour as well as on
achieved,
reflected in the
company profitability. This awareness
activities of
that
enterprises
contribute actively to the societies and communities in which
they operate by implementing corporate CSR policies and
programmes. Moreover the important economic and social
contribution of the non-profit and cooperative sectors must
also be recognised.

is
international

a number of

CSR in the international context has been an important
4.3.
issue for international organisations for many years. The Inter-
national Labour Organisation (ILO) introduced important prin-
ciples with its core labour standards; the OECD followed suit
with its guidelines for multinational enterprises; and the United
Nations has addressed the issue in the context of globalisation
with Kofi Annan's Global Compact Initiative. Last, but not
least, the European Commission has,
in a Green Paper on
corporate social responsibility, raised the question whether
European rules are also needed to promote CSR.

itself at

Commission's initiative should be seen in relationship with
the strategic goal which the EU set
the Lisbon
Summit of becoming ‘the most competitive and dynamic
knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable
economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social
cohesion’. The EEA-CC reiterates the proposal of the EFTA
Consultative Committee, that the same strategic goal should
also be adopted by the EFTA side of the EEA cooperation,
thus including all the 18 countries of the EEA.

CSR must be seen as a long-term undertaking and a
4.5.
together with economic
strategic investment, which will,
In the
success, contribute to the company's sustainability.
words of Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General:
‘Companies are
learning that as markets have gone global, so too must the
concept and practice of corporate social responsibility. And
they are discovering that doing the right thing, at the end of
the day, is actually good for business’.

4.6.
In its Green Paper the European Commission raises the
question of a new European framework for CSR. Companies
are a part of society and operate in a social environment that is
shaped by laws and collective agreements, which regulate the
labour market, reconcile interests on both sides and protect
workers. This is accepted by all concerned and forms the
basis for CSR in Europe, without the legal framework (social
and environmental policy) suffering as a result.

4.7.
In the context of existing social regulations, the main
issue in Europe is to create an ethos in which CSR has a secure
place. The European level
is suitable as a framework for
comparing notes about successful CSR initiatives and for incor-
porating CSR into business
through awareness-
raising.

strategies

to their

4.8.
Voluntary — including negotiated — action is one of
the fundamental principles of CSR. Establishing detailed,
binding pan-European rules would be inappropriate. Uniform,
detailed CSR standards create a risk of companies, especially
SMEs and companies in the social economy, being forced into
a straitjacket. Companies should have the option of developing
tailored, sector-specific and particularly efficient approaches
that are appropriate
situation. General
European principles agreed by the social partners could help
to promote more widely the CSR practices
that many
companies
already applying. The EEA-CC therefore
explicitly welcomes action by the social partners to flesh out
certain aspects of CSR, e.g.
in the spheres of health and
industrial safety or promotion of equal opportunities. The
specific EU context of CSR could be developed on the basis
of joint initiatives and voluntary agreements between the social
transparency,
partners. The Commission could enhance
coherence and good practice in this sphere by promoting part-
nership between the key CSR players.

specific

are

The EEA-CC welcomes the Commission's Green Paper,
4.4.
which has
stimulated a critical debate on new ways of
promoting CSR and raised awareness about this issue. The

4.9.
The EEA-CC points to the special obligation of enter-
prises producing services of general interest concerning social,
environmental responsibilities as well as responsibilities for
providing services in specific geographic areas,
i.e. drinking
water.

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The EEA-CC underlines the importance of coherence
4.10.
between the approach taken concerning CSR and the approach
taken concerning enterprise behaviour in related EU legal
instruments or policies. The current review of the European
formulation of
public procurement
Commission communications on the social and environmental
aspects of public procurement are of particular relevance,
together with the proposals for environmental
liability. The
EEA-CC also suggests reviewing the public aid provisions
with the development of social or environmental responsi-
bilities.

directives

and

the

5. Summary of conclusions and recommendations

the White Paper omits

The EEA-CC welcomes the European Commission's
5.1.
work on European Governance and supports the five principles
of good governance proposed by the Commission, as they
incorporate the elements associated with the principles of
democracy and transparency. The EEA-CC notes, however,
the underlying
that
problems of
from
government-based to governance-based ruling of
societies.
The EEA-CC underlines
renewal of political
that
processes and decision-making systems in the Community
will have implications for the European Economic Area, as
EEA-relevant
legal EC acts must be incorporated into the
EEA Agreement.

to discuss
the
alia

governance,

change

inter

any

Better involvement and more openness is one of the
5.2.
cornerstones of good governance. The EEA Consultative
Committee therefore welcomes the proposal for more trans-
parent working methods in the European institutions, and
calls
transparency and more involvement of
non-governmental actors also in the EEA cooperation.

for greater

5.3.
The EEA-CC underlines the important role and respon-
sibilities of the social partners. The task of the social partners
within the framework of the social dialogue is an excellent
exemplification of the governance principle at European level.
Therefore the social dialogue should be recognised as an
important part in shaping the future of Europe.

The EEA-CC strongly supports the Commission's plan
5.4.
to consult civil society organisations in all stages of policy-
making, and welcomes the proposal
to adopt a code of
conduct for consultation. However, there is an urgent need
to make a clear distinction between ‘civil dialogue’ and ‘social
dialogue’ and to establish criteria of representativeness for the

selection of civil society organisations to take part in civil
dialogue consultations.

5.5.
Considering the increased weight of regional and local
actors in the EU, the EEA Consultative Committee notes the
lack of provisions in the EEA Agreement regarding cooperation
between the local and regional levels in the EEA.

to

As

the

better

rules, which give effect

EEA Consultative
regulation,
5.6.
Committee supports the Commission's proposal to simplify
European legislation and calls on the EEA/EFTA States to
follow the European Commission's example and simplify the
national
to EU provisions. The
EEA/EFTA States should also take part in the EU's proposed
sharing of best practices regarding implementing measures. In
addition to simplification,
the EEA-CC calls for an impact
analysis mechanism and objective assessment of alternative
modes of legislation.
It urges the EEA/EFTA States to take
into account non-legislative developments in the EU, which
have an impact on the Internal Market, to ensure parallel devel-
opment and equal conditions of competition throughout the
EEA.

The

EEA Consultative Committee highlights

5.7.
the
significance for the EEA/EFTA States of ensuring membership
in new EEA-relevant
and ensuring
regulatory
and active participation in all Commission
competent
committees open to EEA/EFTA participation. The EEA-CC
also calls on the EU side to ensure that the views of the
EEA/EFTA States are taken into account in a possible process
of reforming the comitology system.

agencies

the

In the context of global and European governance, the
5.8.
EEA Consultative Committee welcomes
European
Commission's Green Paper on corporate social responsibility
(CSR), which has stimulated a critical debate on new ways of
promoting CSR and raised awareness about this issue. It is an
important contribution to the successful implementation of the
Lisbon Strategy, which should, in the EEA-CC's view also be
fully adopted by the EFTA side of the EEA cooperation. CSR
must be seen as a long-term voluntary — including negotiated
— undertaking and a strategic investment, which will, together
with economic success, contribute to the company's sustain-
ability.
transparency,
coherence and good practice in this sphere by promoting part-
nership between the key CSR players.

The Commission

enhance

could