Reinhard Steurer ESDN Office at RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Possibilities of European Cooperation in SD strategy

Reinhard Steurer ESDN Office at RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing

Sustainability www.sd-network.eu

Possibilities of European Cooperation in SD strategy cycles

Presentation given at the Workshop “A Sustainable Nordic Region in a Region of Opportunities

Can the Nordic cooperation make a difference?” Helsinki, 6 March 2007

Steurer: Possibilities of European Cooperation in SD strategy cycles

Orientation

Basics about SD strategies

Principles and steps of SD strategy cycles

Possibilities of European Cooperation

Questions for


Background: The ESDN

It is an informal network of public administrators dealing with SD strategies in Europe

It aims to exchange experiences, knowledge and good practices regarding SD strategy processes

It is supported by the ESDN Office, established by a steering group of 7 countries (incl. Finland) in spring 2006


Background: The ESDN Office

Facilitate exchange of experience and knowledge on SD strategies

Support the ESDN members

Contribute to ESDN Conferences

Assist Steering Group in developing the ESDN further

Website at www.sd-network.eu

Next ESDN Conference in

Berlin, 3-5 June 2007

Next ESDN Conference in

Berlin, 3-5 June 2007

If you want to join the ESDN, contact

[email protected]

If you want to join the ESDN, contact

[email protected]

http://www.sd-network.eu/


ESDN Website: One-stop-shop


Orientation




Questions for



SD strategies are strategic processes rather than strategic documents

SD strategy processes should follow some normative principles and key steps (or elements)

The steps (or elements) of an SD strategy form a strategy cycle

“SD cannot be achieved in one country or region in isolation”, therefore European cooperation is desirable, …

… but a difficult balancing act between coherence and national autonomy


Orientation




Questions for


Policy Integration

Participation Reflexivit

y

Long-term focus

Inspired by Volkery et al (2006): Coordination, Challenges, and Innovations in 19 National Sustainable Development Strategies, in World Development, 34/12

The SD strategy cycle – principles and steps


1. Political commitment & guidance

- Political mandate- Definition of approach- Legal (constitutional basis) 2. Strategy

formulation

- Long-term and integrative objectives- Synergies & trade-offs- Procedural guidance

regarding the 4 principles

3. The implementation process

- Budgets, work/action plans- Orchestrate strategy ele-

ments & policy instruments- Assess & consider SD impacts

4. Reviewing & monitoring

- Performance monitoring- Process review & evaluation

From political will to a common vision

From vision to short- & medium-

term action

From action to learning

From learningto strategy renewal

Policy Integration


y

Long-term focus



Multiple SD strategy cycles


Orientation




Questions for Colour code:

• Cooperation/coordination exists

• Cooperation/coordination could be improved

Colour code:• Cooperation/coordination

exists• Cooperation/coordination

could be improved


Policy Integration


y

Long-term focus

Possibilities of European Cooperation: Principles

Common understanding: 9 Policy guiding

principles in EU SDS

Common understanding: 9 Policy guiding

principles in EU SDS

+ precautionary principle

+ precautionary principle

“use best available

knowledge”

“use best available

knowledge”

+ polluter pays+ polluter pays

+ fundamental rights

+ fundamental rights




formulation








Possibilities of European Cooperation: Steps

European Council commitments

(Gothenburg 2001, Brussels 2006?)

European Council commitments

(Gothenburg 2001, Brussels 2006?)

OECD & UN guidelines help defining the SD

strategy approach, but

what about guidelines for a more coherent European

(or Nordic) approach?

OECD & UN guidelines help defining the SD

strategy approach, but

what about guidelines for a more coherent European

(or Nordic) approach?

• SD in the Amsterdam treaty• EU constitution and SD?

• Council commitment to give SD strategies a legal basis

• Council commitment to involve parliaments

• SD in the Amsterdam treaty• EU constitution and SD?

• Council commitment to give SD strategies a legal basis

• Council commitment to involve parliaments








Find “language” on how to address not

only synergies but also trade-offs

Find “language” on how to address not

only synergies but also trade-offs

• Develop “European approach” regarding - Horizontal integration (inter-ministerial

committees)- Vertical integration (national-regional-local)

- Participation (National Councils of SD)- Reflexivity (monitoring & reviewing)

• Exchange experiences on approaches taken (ESDN)

• Develop “European approach” regarding - Horizontal integration (inter-ministerial

committees)- Vertical integration (national-regional-local)

- Participation (National Councils of SD)- Reflexivity (monitoring & reviewing)

• Exchange experiences on approaches taken (ESDN)

2. Strategy formulation




- Political mandate- Definition of approach- Legal (constitutional basis)

• Consider EU SDS priorities

• Consider priorities of regional (such as the Nordic) SD strategies

• Consider EU SDS priorities

• Consider priorities of regional (such as the Nordic) SD strategies




formulation









SD strategy elements often rather

fragmented than well orchestrated, but

exchange of experience in ESDN

(annual conferences)

SD strategy elements often rather

fragmented than well orchestrated, but

exchange of experience in ESDN

(annual conferences)Little coherence on how to translate vision into measures (work/action

plans become more popular)

Little coherence on how to translate vision into measures (work/action


Exchange (workshops) on which

policy instruments work best for what purpose (within the

ESDN)

Exchange (workshops) on which

policy instruments work best for what purpose (within the

ESDN)

More coherent use of impact assessment

methods

More coherent use of impact assessment

methods

From vision to short- & medium-

term action








formulation




All countries apply SD indicator monitoring

but differences regarding

• indicators used• reporting schemes

All countries apply SD indicator monitoring

but differences regarding

• indicators used• reporting schemes






Exchange on advantages and disadvantages of different review

approaches (within the ESDN)

Exchange on advantages and disadvantages of different review

approaches (within the ESDN)

EU SDS process:• SD coordinator

reporting• Peer review initiative

EU SDS process:• SD coordinator

reporting• Peer review initiative




formulation









From learningto strategy renewal

Towards a common European cycle of

strategy renewal (in line with EU SDS)?

Towards a common European cycle of

strategy renewal (in line with EU SDS)?


Orientation




Questions for




formulation








Policy Integration


y

Long-term focus

Questions for

Adapt PM declaration on SD from 1998 (in line

with EU SDS)?

Adapt PM declaration on SD from 1998 (in line

with EU SDS)?

• Coherence with other supra-national processes (Baltic 21,

Arctic C., Barents C.)?

• More procedural guidance for national

SD strategies?

• Coherence with other supra-national processes (Baltic 21,

Arctic C., Barents C.)?

• More procedural guidance for national

SD strategies?

Towards a common Nordic cycle of

strategy renewal (in line with the EU &

the Nordic Strategy)?

Towards a common Nordic cycle of

strategy renewal (in line with the EU &

the Nordic Strategy)?

• Peer reviewing as European

cooperation in Nordic countries?

• Cooperation with ESDN?

• Peer reviewing as European

cooperation in Nordic countries?

• Cooperation with ESDN?

Thank you!

Reinhard Steurer [email protected]

ESDN Office at theRIMAS – Research Institute for Managing

SustainabilityVienna University of Economics and Business

AdministrationVienna, Austria

www.sd-network.eu

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sd-network.eu/

Documents

Reinhard Steurer ESDN Office at RIMAS – Research Institute for Managing Sustainability Possibilities of European Cooperation in SD strategy