Rethinking governance in the EU
Changing the ‘how’ of policymaking through long-term methods and solutions
In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU policymakers must navigate a complex and uncertain landscape. This demands swift responses while also addressing long-term existential threats like climate change. The new EU institutional cycle offers a pivotal opportunity to rethink and strengthen the approach to making policy, enhancing the process to be more resilient to crises while remaining flexible and agile for policies that are effective both now and in the future.
To support this effort, ZOE Institute organized a series of co-creative Policy Labs, engaging policymakers and stakeholders from both the EU and Member State levels. Using innovative methods, we facilitated discussions to progress from broad challenge definitions to uncovering root causes and identifying feasible, impactful ‘process innovations’.The resulting ‘Policy Cycle 2.0’ proposes four solutions to address challenges related to horizontal coordination, meaningful public participation, assessing long-term impacts, and ensuring the political leadership needed to guide this process.
By adjusting the ways of working within institutions, policymakers will be better equipped to identify and mitigate trade-offs early on, ensuring a more sustainable and equitable transition.
