Complete summary of all articles, with notes from class. Present in every lesson.
Structured using the structure provided by the prof, in a mind map. Not chronological, but according to theme.
Professor dr. G.J. Brandsma
Broad: algemeen
Onderscheid tussen broad & narrow
Narrow: meer op het institutionele (eu enz)
Accountability as a relation between actor and
forum
New forms of accountab
Old & new, new has become more vague and
horizontal
Problem in the eu that neither the counsel, nor
the member states are accountable to any Democratic perspective
political forum at EU level
,SETTING THE SCENE
THE ‘BUREAUCRATIC NETHERWORLD’: EU GOVERNANCE BENEATH THE SURFACE (HEIDBREDER
FORTHCOMING)
This chapter looks at what we can learn from other federal politics about EU multi-level governance. Two camps
about federalism for the EU:
1. First one argues that the EU is no full-fledged state, but more of a federal system that can be compared
to other federal systems. So, the EU federal system has specific features compared to others.
2. The second focuses on the EU has no actual state order and therefore cannot overcome legitimacy
problems.
This chapter takes the EU as a federal polity (not state) as starting point to understand its complex administrative
order.
SETTING THE SCENE: TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
Federal systems: authority for policymaking is dual.
There are two contrasting models in which power differs.
THE US FEDERAL STATE: SYSTEM OF DUAL FEDERALISM
The US federal state represents a model in which power is separated at different levels.
Its executive power is centralized at level that holds legislative powers.
Executive and legislative powers coincide at one level. This means that it’s up to the states whether they execute
federal law. This model was adapted and now it comprised multiple forms of cooperative federalism, this leads
to more intergovernmental management.
THE GERMAN MODEL: ADMINISTRATIVE FEDERALISM
In contrast, the German model is a system of interwoven authority. In this system, legislation federal and
execution happens decentralized in the states.
In the German model, federal law is executed by the states (administrative federalism). This means that the
Länder enact federal law under their own authority and are co-legislatures on the federal level. But the federal
government is able to set rules for implementation that can constrain Länder autonomy. There is thus a system
of mixed administration. The strength of Länder is nor rooted in self-rule, but in rights to co-decide on federal
bills.
THE EU: A MIXTURE
The EU can be seen as a mixture.
The EU system shares features of both. The EU’s constituent order establishes that the EU can establish its own
executive powers (US model), but it can only do so if executive federalism cannot deliver needed uniform
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,application of EU law (German model). Thus, the EU builds on executive federalism, unless the decentralized
execution is defective and the uniform implementation across states is at stake.
THE EU’S EXECUTIVE ORDER: MULTILEVEL ADMINISTRATION
How do these general features translate into administrative practices?
1. The EU is not a state.
a. Therefore, it doesn’t possess the authority and cannot determine its own competences. This
leads to scholars using multilevel governance to describe EU polity.
2. The EU can be defined as a system of vertically and horizontally networked administrative units that
links actors on various levels in different legal guises and under varying legal principles in autonomy-
sharing procedures to administer all stages of EU policymaking.
a. This shows how power is exercised, but not who exercises it. This gap can be filled with federal
administration.
The administrative principles that guide EU policy execution can be sorted in 3 categories.
Centralization The most far-reaching form of centralization occurs when the EU executes policies itself.
One of the most standard forms to create uniform legal application via centralization is
through Implementing Acts. Usually, Implementing Acts involve the Comitology, in which
national administrative experts coordinate with the Commission. In turn, Delegated Acts
can delegate the Commission firmly circumscribed quasi-legislative functions. In
addition, further delegation of executive tasks can occur from the Commission to
Executive Agencies.
Decentralization The default of executive power in the EU is decentralized, like the German model. This
means that execution is in the first place a prerogative of the member states. Thus,
member states have to constrain their executive powers in certain cases to guarantee
correct application of EU legislation.
Mixed/joined To enhance effective implementation, but retain the principle of administrative
administration. subsidiarity, there is the administrative cooperation. This means that the EU can facilitate
implementation of EU policies but is explicitly prohibited from harmonizing national
administrative orders or procedures.
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, The EU created procedures in which the different levels are procedurally linked. The exercise of executive powers
takes the form of mixed administration, which leads to the EU becoming an integrated administration.
To classify forms of administrative cooperation across levels, there are 3 forms:
1. Joint administration (EU legislation implemented partially supranationally, partially nationally),
2. Decentralized administration (non-exclusive EU legal powers shared member states and implemented
in agency as distinctive administrative setup),
3. Regulatory concert (common EU and member states organization).
4. (Decentralized Agencies) which are based across member states. These agencies hold competences to
monitor, evaluate, inform, and coordinate implementation in the member states. A less formalized
category are regulatory networks, that connect EU bodies with national regulatory bodies which usually
for due to functional needs to cooperate and mutually impact on each other’s authority and
independence.
EU’s executive functions are subject to adaptions and case specific. This reflects the EU’s multilevel character
that shares central features of federations and can be analytically described as distinct from a federal state.
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