When we talk about simplifying administrative processes (#smartstate), we don't mean "big" things, just a collection of small things that contribute to making people's lives needlessly more complicated, especially abroad. Here's a silly example with a birth registration. 👇 1/7
A child is born in #Austria and registered with local authorities. Local authorities issue, for free, an original Austrian birth certificate in German and are thoughtful enough to include, for free, an original international birth certificate in multiple languages. 2/7
However, #French authorities will not accept the international birth certificate because it says "extract"; instead, they want a full version, even just in German. This requires us to book an appointment with local authorities and, this time, pay for a new original. 3/7
Now, what is the difference bt the international extract & the full German version, you ask? None. None at all. It's the exact same, but one says "extract" & the other one doesn't. We're not asked for the full international version, just for the same paper without "extract". 4/7
Is this the end of the world? No. Is it needlessly asking us to book an appointment, take up time & resources from public services (esp. with #covid restrictions) & pay a fee, all for nothing? Yes. And what is the point of the international version that isn't accepted? None. 5/7
What can we do? Not much but call upon the Min. for Interior (@Interieur_Gouv, @GDarmanin), EU affairs (@francediplo, @CBeaune) & EU authorities (@EUCouncil) to look into such nonsense and make a conscious effort to ease the lives of citizens and of their own administrations. 6/7
No one likes redundant administrative processes. Living abroad & loving a foreigner (esp. in the #EU) should not be a source of constant puzzles and needless complications like the one presented here. Small & smart reforms do go a long way for citizens. Thank you. 7/7 @VoltEuropa
PS: of course, public servants on both the Austrian 🇦🇹 (@StadtWien) and French 🇫🇷 (@France_Autriche) sides are great and helpful. But requirements come from above and they follow what is required of them by their ministries.
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Over the past several years, @EDC_eudemocracy has made many, many requests to the European Parliament to access decisions by its Bureau on the funding of #europeanparties. These included decisions for funding (for the coming year) and final accounts (which wrap up the process).
Invariably, these documents were provided with heavy redactions over the parts covering the EP's reasoning for its decisions: we could see the outcome (amounts), but not how decisions were made. Until yesterday, the latest full document related to funding for 2015 -- 8 years ago.
To be clear, the point of this thread is *not* to argue that TNLs will make our common election less European, simply that they will not remedy the election's core deficiency (that national parties are in control) and that, therefore, they are not the right way forward. 3/25
Of course, "the @EU_Commission shall be completely independent" and "the members of the Commission shall neither seek nor take instructions from any Government". (Art. 17.3 TEU #LisbonTreaty). So there should be no need for #1country1commissioner rule. #IamEuropean 🇪🇺
Furthermore, "As from 1/11/2014, the @EU_Commission shall consist of a number of members [equal to] two thirds of the number of Member States" (Art. 17.5 TEU #LisbonTreaty)..... "unless the @EUCouncil [...] decides to alter this number". Which it did right away. #IamEuropean 🇪🇺
Today, European Democracy Consulting lodged an official complaint with the @EUombudsman against the Authority for #EuropeanParties over its implementation of transparency requirements.
The APPF was set up in 2014 to register, control and sanction European parties & foundations. It is the #EU’s party monitoring body and watchdog. As such, it has a key role for anything relating to #EuropeanParties. 2/14 appf.europa.eu/appf/en/author…
Regulation 1141/2014 establishes clear transparency requirements binding upon the APPF, the @Europarl_EN and European parties, aimed at ensuring that citizens and the #media have the means to know, engage with, and monitor #EuropeanParties. 3/14 eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/…