1. The EU’s Green Diplomacy network
regional intergovernmental organisations and their role in IEG

2. “What place for regional intergovernmental organisations in international governance?”

3. What you should know about me … a tribute to Marti Koskiniemi
western European (Belgium)
background in international and european law
believer in subsidiarity and regional intergration
multilateralist
diplomatic law and general international law
embedded in an environmental law research group

4. “What place for regional intergovernmental organisations in international governance?” & “How to promote regional intergovermental organisation’s praticipation?”

5. What place for RIO’s …
Relevance
Necissity and desireability
Added value
Problems
The EU’s Green Diplomacy Network

6. … virtually unconstested relevance
ANDEAN Community
Regional Biodiversity Strategy for Tropical Andean Countries (‘02)
“… viable sustainable regional development …“
“… coordination of joint positions at the various international negotiation forums.”
AU (African Union)
Common position Copenhagen
Conference of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change
ASEAN
Yangon Resolution on Sustainable Development (‘03)
European Union

7. … two rather distinct positions on necessity and desireability
No need, at least no formal place
… conservatism of the nation state, an already functioning systems, danger of complexity, refrain to minimal external representation
An institutionalised place is more than desirable
… because of their value added

8. … the only real value added
the internal decision making process is:
a stabelising factor international negotiations
… it produce a degree of policy intergration, which in turn increases predictability of the MS’s position
… dependent on a.o. competences and political will and/or structural diversity

9. Projects
(Obligations of conduct)
Targets
(Obligations of performance)
Principles/Goals
(Obligations of result)
Alignment
Convergence
Unification

10. Projects
(Obligations of conduct)
Targets
(Obligations of performance)
Principles/Goals
(Obligations of result)
Alignment
Convergence
Unification

11. stabelization is no guarantee to succes …
rigidity of the process
navel gazing
coordination different outreach channels
rest of the problems are more instrumental

12. stabelization is no guarantee to succes … … rigidity of the process
Established EU position for negotiations
Confirmation by the European Council
Council adopts conclusion which includes new position
COREPER (intermediate decision on political elements or referral)
Discussion and adoption new position in WPIEI
Discussion in expert groups (e.g. EGFA, EGAD, LEX) result forwarded by EGFA to WPIEI
Issue Leaders and experts prepare EU position on specific topic
Complex
competences( )
structure
fragile equilibrium  limited margin for negotiations

13. stabelization is no guarantee to succes … … rigidity of the process
complex and time consuming
structure
competences (174 >191)
balancing for fragile equilibrium
 limited margin for negotiations

14. stabelization is no guarantee to succes … … navel gazing
the EU is often accused of being too self centered
risk for stand-off or a halt in international negotiations
despite “+ formulas”

15. stabelization is no guarantee to succes … … coordination different outreach channels
EC (G8, G20, UN)
Member States (Greenland Dialogue)
Troika, WPIEI (during negotations)
 Multitude due to traditional view on diplomacy

16. Networked governance as a partial answer … … the EU’s Green Diplomacy Network
“The EU Green Diplomacy Network (GDN) is a flexible, informal and innovative tool that works towards a better integration of the EU environment policies into external relations practices. The GDN uses the EU Member State and Commission’s extensive diplomatic networks to provide an effective means of gathering and exchanging information.”

17. Networked governance as a partial answer … … the EU’s Green Diplomacy Network
bottom-up initiative (cf. Delivering as One) but formally under control of the Council
concept + network meetings + local action
Ministries and diplomats
3rd country positions and outreach

18. things to consider…
Stabelization can be cultivated through regional cooperation incentives … (WTO, Kyoto,…)
networked governance or diplomacy: a tool to alleviate some of the self centeredness and problems with coordination
 creative views on governance and further (stimulated) integration will guarantee RIO’s of a place around the negotiation table …