But within this diversity, four structures stand out as most commonly used, often in combination, across particular systems: Advisory councils: many countries have a high-level council for science (or science and innovation) policy.
But for this concept to be taken any further, European ministers will need to approve a budget at their high-level council in 2012.
"During one of the worst housing crises this country has faced, with demand at sky-high levels, councils are being hamstrung," said Mike Jones, chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) environment and housing board.
John Kerry chaired a high level UN security council summit on Congo, and Senators Russ Feingold and James Swan, both of whom have the president's ear, were appointed as US special envoy and ambassador to the Congo respectively, to reenergise peace efforts.
Buses running to known areas of deprivation were also maintained, as citizens needed a high level of public transport access to council services.
As part of a national action plan, discussed in the first high-level cooperation council during the visit, everything from civil aviation to digital policy and the rewording of history books was broached.
On a tour to promote the fifth year of the Elders, Robinson said the work of the group, a sort of high-level advisory council, had become more urgent in the face of economic and political turmoil and signs of an increasing democratic deficit.
What Spanish science needs is not a government that turns a deaf ear towards the research community but rather one that puts in place a politically independent high-level advisory council for science, with a significant proportion of members elected by the research community.
In Saudi terms, King Abdullah was a reformer, making princes pay their phone bills and giving women their first ever seats in the high-level consultative council.
But the new threshold has been set at the high level previously used by 90% of councils, so it is questionable what difference it will make.
Many councils report a high level of social work vacancies - particularly in more senior roles.
