Long-term and cross-sectional policy issues in European governments and parliaments. Summary

Dealing with long-term and cross-cutting issues poses a number of challenges to established routines and the organisation of governments and parliaments based on the division of labour: Long-term social development trends and long-term effects of political measures must be identified and taken into account. Political action must be coordinated between a large number of affected departments. A high degree of coordination with social interest groups is necessary if long-term political goals are to be realised.

Subject and objective of the study
The TAB project, which was commissioned by the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment and started on 5 July 2000, pursued the question of which procedures and forms of institutionalisation (e.g. interdepartmental programmes, creation of specialised scientific institutions, commissions of enquiry, councils of experts, forums for communication between politics and society) are chosen by European parliaments and governments in dealing with long-term and cross-cutting issues in order to meet the challenges mentioned. In addition to a comparison of countries with regard to sustainability policy in Europe, TAB has compiled an inventory of the advisory institutions for technology assessment established in a number of European countries at the national parliaments.