Brussels, 22/06/2009 – Chiara Miglioli, graduate from the College of Europe in Bruges, has won this year’s ACEA Competitiveness Award for a thesis on the influence of impact assessment and sustainable development objectives on policy-making in the European Commission.
An Italian national, Miglioli has studied economics and politics of European integration before doing her master’s degree in European political studies at the College of Europe. She chose the topic of her thesis because of its high relevance for EU policy-making. “Impact assessment and sustainable development do not affect just one or two policy areas. They are relevant almost everywhere”, she said. Miglioli has found that the use of impact assessment requires increased coordination between the different Directorates General of the Commission. She also estimates that stakeholders, the European Parliament and the Council will continue to expect improvements in impact assessment
performance.

Ivan Hodac, secretary general of ACEA, congratulated the winner. “Chiara Miglioli has made an excellent analysis on an issue that is highly important for European policy-making”, Hodac said. “Good impact assessment is central to delivering policies that take the needs of society on board.”

It is the fourth time that ACEA, the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, awards a College of Europe student for a thesis that shows academic excellence and investigates a dimension of EU
regulation and industry competitiveness without necessarily being automotive-industry specific.

The cooperation between the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association and the College in Bruges is rooted in the mutual conviction that close understanding is essential between industry & business and the EU institutions, many of which recruit from the College of Europe.

European integration is still work in progress. Continuous interaction between society’s decision makers is of utmost significance to preserve what has grown and draft effective regulation while avoiding unnecessary
bureaucracy.

For further information, please contact Sigrid de Vries, Director Communications ACEA +32 485 88 66 47 or sv@acea.be

Please also visit www.acea.be