Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
And hence in which ways it will be possible for SEAMLESS-IF to contribute to an
institutionalisation of a deliberative impact assessment process?
This chapter presents the features of the impact assessment system now being
implemented in Europe. We will then present SEAMLESS-IF as a science-policy
interface, and report on the ways scientific knowledge and policy values were
confronted and deliberated in discussions with potential users and in test applications
of the SEAMLESS-IF.
Motive and Aim of the European Impact Assessment System
To perform impact assessments of policy proposals is gradually becoming an
important instrument in European policy making. Since 2003 a formal impact
assessment (IA) is required for all regulatory proposals in the EC (EC
2002)
.
The initiative can be traced back to the Lisbon Strategy of 2000, where the
European Union set the goal of becoming the most competitive and dynamic
knowledge-based economy in the world. In its endeavour to achieve this goal a core
priority is to implement a better law making process in the union and the member
states. One way to achieve a better knowledge base for new regulations is to submit
policy proposals for impact assessment (EC
2006)
.
Impact Assessment as Part of the Dynamics of Policy
The IA procedure at the European Commission stems from a governance concept
which assumes that policy programs are the product of complex interaction between
government and non-government organizations (researchers included), each seeking
to influence the collectively binding decisions that have consequences for their interest.
The idea of impact assessment is based on the assumption of the 'co-production
of knowledge' (Callon
1999)
. Different kinds of knowledge are negotiating
their hybridization, which is a necessity to get forward in the management of the
risk-complexity-uncertainty of the implementation of policies.
An assessment process that meets the ideal requirement is one that involves
stakeholders throughout the work in a major political process, so that the suggestions
put forward in the final proposal are anchored on all levels in the European
community (Bäcklund
2009)
. Stakeholders can be consulted about different elements
of the IA; the nature of the problem, policy options, impacts, etc. (EC
2005
: 9).
Assessments are likely to be more thorough and also include sustainability aspects
when they concern complex issues without any simple policy solutions. Such
situations 'open up windows and pressures for significant policy change, as well as
a demand for new sources of knowledge' (Turnpenny
2008)
.
1
1
For an example see the assessment of the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection (Van-Camp
et al.
2004)
.
