local government eu priorities 2014 dominic rowles eu advisor & deputy head of brussels office...
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Local Government EU priorities 2014
Dominic RowlesEU Advisor & Deputy Head of Brussels OfficeLocal Government Association (LGA), UK
For NHS Delegation
20 Jan 2014 www.local.gov.uk
Agenda
Who we are
UK & EU focus for 2014
How we work
Lobbying case study
Who we are
• LGA = England & Wales• Formed 1997 – ‘better local government’
• Funded mainly by subscription – 410 local authorities– representing 50 million people (UK 60 million)– representing €100 billion public spend
Who we are
• London & Brussels offices (120 + 3 staff)
• Mainstreaming of EU affairs
• Work through CEMR: European Association of Local & Regional Government
LGA focus for 2014 - UK
Rewiring Local Services
• radical agenda for public service reform:
more local powers & local financing• better outcomes for communities
LGA focus for 2014 - Health
• Support councils’ Public Health role• Relationship building with Public Health
England, HealthWatch, NHS etc • 0-5s children’s public health transfer to local
government in 2015, & commissioning of health visitors
LGA focus for 2014 - EU
1. EU funds
2. EU legislation – procurement, state aids, environment, employment law + EU elections
3. International trade & development
4. Supporting local politicians - Committee of the Regions (Brussels)
- Congress of the Council of Europe (Strasbourg)
• Direct impact of EU on councils’ services & decisions
• 75% of EU law implemented at local level
• Possibility of fines for councils - Localism Act 2011
Why focus on the EU?
How we work
EU lobbying > success factors
• Aware of processes• Aware of planning (timetable)• Actively involved in the policy• Aware of the people and how to contact
– Networking– Intelligence
• Able to articulate a position – Clearly, Concisely, Continually…
Lobbying earlier is easier
EffortEffort
Time
policy
political
>> Pre-legislative >> Draft legislation >> Council & EP readings >> Implementation >>
Local Government influence
“Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.”
Groucho Marx, 1890-1977
Successful lobbying case study: Late Payments Directive
The Directive required…
• public authorities to pay suppliers within 30 calendar days of receipt of an undisputed invoice. (Exception healthcare)
• had to be implemented by 16 March 2013 !
Proposed penalties regime complex
It was originally proposed that suppliers could charge:
• Daily interest rate: base rate + 7% points• Recovery fee of 1% of invoice value• Flat rate penalty of 5% of invoice value !
• Plus damages via courts
Key lobbying objectives
Support prompt payments but push for a simplified & balanced penalty regime
– Removal of 5% of invoice value penalty
– Removal of 1% of invoice value recovery costs(disproportionate & unrelated to supplier costs)
– Application to B2B payments
Is regulation remedy ?
• Inaccurate/disputed invoices – amounts/description
• Invoice sent to wrong address / department
• Invoice sent before goods/services received
• Time needed to check construction work & IT projects – hardware/software
• Cultural issues - companies do not exercise these rights, they wish to maintain good relationships with public sector.
How we lobbied
• Pre-legislative work• Evidence gathering / consultation: up to
£600m extra costs for UK public sector• Dialogue with Commission • Influenced Member States• Mobilised European Parliament• Valuable work via CoR, CEMR
Media Work
