The Commission runs a lot of public consultations. You can follow them here. Running public consultations make sense. Officials can get access to evidence that they may have missed.
I’ve always liked the process. It is a means to address the Hayekian problem of knowledge. Officials can source information from hundreds of milllions of European citizens , others, and experts in the field.
It’s a great idea. It sort of depends on those making submissions to bring evidence to the table.
By evidence I mean data and studies by real experts that talk to the issue. Relevant ancedotal statements can be helpful, if they provide a relevant insight.
I wanted to see what sort of evidence the Commission received during the public consultations.So I picked 3 random public consultations for legislation in areas that I don’t work on.
I simply looked through the submissions, and broke down submissions along the following grounds:
1. Studies
2. Data
3. Ancedotal
4. Personal insights
5. Statement of views
Going through the submissions, feedback comes from:
- Governments
- Private citizens
- Companies
- Not for profit organisations
- Trade Associations
- Advisory bodies
- Scientists
- Public authorities
What’s the feedback like
Citizen feedback is often organised. A common response sent by a group of people. Even so, they raise data and ancdotal evidence.
NGOs submited the most data, studies, and reports to support a solution.
Most submissions coould be categorised as a statement of well known existing position or hearsay.
This matters. An official needs information to make good public policy decisions. If most information they get is a statement of belief or hearsay, it has little use.
My hunch is that the people who submit well prepared data, evidence studies that address the issue, provide solutions, will find their material co-opted.
There is little place for hearsay and recanting of positions. That is akin to me going to Atheist Alliance International AGM saying the rosary and giving a talk on the cathesim. It would fall on deaf ears. It may make me feel better, but is not going to persuade or inform the audience.
I’ll try some more random selection of feedback to see if things change.