Study on the Civil Dialogue Groups for the Common Agricultural Policy– Analysis of EU Policy Consultation

Study on the Civil Dialogue Groups for the Common Agricultural Policy– Analysis of EU Policy Consultation

Contact
Julita Konieczka
Department/Sector/Unit
DG AGRI I.4
Other Organisations
DG AGRI A.1
DG AGRI B.1
DG AGRI B.3
DG AGRI B.4
DG AGRI C.1
DG AGRI D.2
DG AGRI D.4
DG AGRI E.2
DG AGRI G.2
DG AGRI G.3
DG AGRI G.4

Description

The European Commission (DG AGRI) has commissioned Deloitte Consulting B.V. to conduct the “Study on the Civil Dialogue Groups for the CAP – Analysis of the EU Policy Making” in December 2018 for a duration of 10 months. The contractor should deliver the final report (including recommendations) by mid-October 2019.

The study analyses the impact of the CDGs (13 groups composed of EU-level non-governmental organisations selected via a public call for applications by Director General of DG AGRI in 2014) on policy-making and the interlinkage with Better Regulation tools, assesses their present operation against the tasks set out in the CDG decision and identifies areas for improvement.

The conclusions of the study do not bind the Commission. The results of the study will feed into the review of the 2013 CDG Decision on setting up a framework for civil dialogue. The publication of the final report is foreseen for beginning of 2020.

Participation Spectrum

When and Where

Start Year
2018
End Year
2019

Policy Context

Policy Stage
Context of activity
Framework for civil dialogue
Science or Policy Field
Specific Topic
A dialogue with representative associations and civil society dealing with matters covered by the CAP has been in existence since 1962. To increase transparency and provide for a better balancing of represented interests it became necessary to provide a new framework of a civil dialogue in the field of agriculture and rural development and to define the groups' tasks and structure. In December 2013 the European Commission set up this new framework for civil dialogue and in July 2014 decided - based on calls for application - on the composition of the 13 civil dialogue groups (mandate of CDGs expires in July 2021).
All 13 CDGs were covered: Animal Products, Arable Crops, Wine, Milk, Horticulture, olives and spirits, International Aspects of Agriculture, Direct payments and greening, Rural Development, Forestry and Cork, Environment and Climate Change, Organic...

Participants

Participants
1300
Communities or representatives involved
All 68 Member Organisations of the CDGs, external experts invited to meetings on ad-hoc basis, indirect participants (Members of constituent organisations of each umbrella Member Organisation).
How were the Participants selected?
Through what means citizens knew about the call for participation?
Direct contact with Member Organisations facilitated by DG AGRI services. The consultation was addressed to all 68 Member Organisations, via online questionnaire open to all interested; in-depth interviews with 12 pre-selected Member Organisations; 6 Case studies on AGRI matters and 4 Case studies with other DGs: TRADE, REGIO, MARE and SANTE (with EU officials and pre-selected member organisations); participation of contractor at 12 CDG meetings; half-day workshop open to all organisations.

Methodologies

Events
39
Methodologies used
Methodology description
1) Desk research.
2) Online questionnaire – 457 unique responses were recorded by the Contractor.
3) Attendance at CDG meetings - a total of 12 CDG meetings attended by Contractor Feb-May 2019.
4) In-depth interviews (4 with EC officials + 11 interviews with representatives from Member Organisations).
5) 10 Case Studies.
6) Half-day workshop – on 9 July 2019 in Brussels to present the preliminary findings of the Policy Study and collect input for generating recommendations.
Tools Used
Spaces Used

Impact

Output
Main Outcomes and Lasting Achievement
The Final Study report is to be submitted by the contractor to DG AGRI by mid-October 2019 (publication foreseen for the beginning of 2020). The results of the study will feed into the revision of the CDG Decision of 2013 and help structure the Civil Dialogue for the next mandate as from mid-2021.
How were the outcome taken up within the process they were carried out?
As the study is still ongoing, we cannot comment on the outcomes.
Feedback provided
Other Feedback
Too early to comment, as the Study is ongoing.
Were the methodologies used elsewhere?
Too early to comment, as the Study is ongoing.

Assessment

Reason for such challenges and solutions
The contractor had to select a list of Member Organisations to be interviewed (for in-depth interviews and case study interviews) and balance between the economic and non-economic, small and big organisations.
The Steering Group (composed of representatives of DG Agri and other DGs) has held 5 meetings with the contractor throughout the duration of the study in order to assess the ongoing work, give guidance and propose corrections to the methodology chosen.
Lessons Learn
Too early to comment, as the Study is ongoing.
Recommendation
Too early to comment, as the Study is ongoing.