Il nuovo metodo di governo nella gestione della politica economica ed il rispetto del principio democratico

It is generally believed that, with the Next Generation EU programme, the European institutions have introduced a new method of governance. This method is articulated on different levels: the first phase implies the setting of general objectives by the European institutions; the second phase presupposes the subsequent preparation of plans by the Member States to pursue these objectives; the further phases consist of the approval of the programmes and the subsequent monitoring of their implementation.The method in question has indeed been used in other regulatory contexts and, in particular, as far as economic matters are concerned, in the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact. The point is that this method presupposes the conduct of a dialogue at an eminently intergovernmental level, with very little involvement of parliamentary assemblies, which are generally only involved ex post and, as a rule, only to discuss, without any deliberative power, or to approve decisions taken elsewhere. In this context, one wonders whether this method of governance is actually replicable in other contexts, which are not characterised by the specific logic and purpose of the Next Generation EU programme.