3. NEW FORMS OF GOVERNANCE

The Draft Memorandum to the Commission "Approaches to European Governance for Democratic European Governance" (Brussels, 3 October 2001) justifies new forms of governance with the new players in Europe, naming these first and foremost as the regional and local authorities both urban and rural, but also as the socio-economic players, social partners, non-governmental organizations and third-sector associations, that together constitute organized civil society. The memorandum then names the more or less formalized groups, structures and networks that are concerned with the vast range of responsibilities. Finally, the Memorandum refers to the numerous professionals who have become experts on Europe by virtue of their profession – the journalists (other media involvement), scientists (groups of researchers and academics inspired by free movement and programmes of cooperation) and national parliamentarians who have specialized in European affairs (European affairs committees within national parliaments). The draft memorandum sees governance for all those from two aspects: 1) greater scope to participate actively and express their opinions; and 2) greater efficiency and responsiveness to real situations.
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1. The concept of “civil society”

The notion of civil society emerged from the attempts by political philosophers to devise a conceptual basis first for the State and then for . It is used to refer either to the ability of citizens to participate in public life, or to the organizations outside the domain of the State which provide the structure for such participation. The revitalization of civil society is a trend that has emerged worldwide over the last two decades alongside political and economic liberalization. The referred Draft Memorandum to the Commission "Approaches to European Governance for Democratic European Governance" adopts the definition of “organized civil society” advanced by the Economic and Committee: “the social partners and the third sector, including NGOs”. But the term “civil society” in general covers a wider and more diffuse phenomenon, encompassing both structured organizations and informal groupings of citizens. This report also refers to such informal groups as “interested parties”; unless otherwise specified the term “civil society” will include both “organized civil society” and “interested ”.

(As understood in the Draft Memorandum to the Commission "Approaches to European Governance for Democratic European Governance" (Brussels, 3 October 2001)
  

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2. “the new approach”?

The Council resolution of 7 May 1985 introduced a new approach for the adoption and implementation of Community legislation on technical harmonization and standards. It was based on two main principles:
• Harmonized legislation is adopted only to lay down essential requirements ensuring a high standard of protection in terms of safety, health, consumer and protection of the environment for products to benefit from freedom of movement; appropriate certification procedures are devised according to the risks involved; the CE mark affixed by the manufacturer shows that the product conforms to the relevant legislation.
• Technical specifications for products meeting the essential requirements are laid down by harmonized standards drafted by the European standards organizations; application of the harmonized standards is voluntary, but confers a presumption of conformity with the corresponding essential requirements; the manufacturer can always apply other technical specifications in order to comply with the essential requirements.

Today, the involvement of socio economic players in regulating market access is taking on a new significance as in the new information and communication , and soon too in biotechnology, it will be impossible to by pass the expertise of leading edge companies.

(As understood in the Draft Memorandum to the Commission "Approaches to European Governance for Democratic European Governance" (Brussels, 3 October 2001)
  

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