Comitology Delegation of Powers in the

This book examines how political decisions are made in the European Union and who influences them, touching upon some of the most central aspects of democracy. Contrary to received wisdom, this book argues that much of the responsibility for adopting EU-legislation is exercised by the Brussels-based Commission through a complex committee system (comitology).

Dr. Carl Fredrik Bergstrom is Head of Legal Research at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies and Associate Professor at Stockholm University Law Faculty.

Table of Cases

xv

Table of Legislation

xix

1 Introduction

1

(37)

1.1 The exercise of implementing powers

1

(9)

1.1.1 A principle of division of responsibility

1

(4)

1.1.2 A close co-operation with the national administrations

5

(3)

1.1.3 A fundamental conflict of interests?

8

(2)

1.2 The legislation: facts and figures

10

(10)

1.2.1 Regulations and directives 1970-2003

10

(8)

1.2.2 The role of committees

18

(2)

1.3 The committee system: a schematic description

20

(11)

1.3.1 The starting point for a closer study

20

(4)

1.3.2 The national experience

24

(5)

1.3.3 The consultation of external parties

29

(2)

1.4 Striking the balance of powers

31

(7)

1.4.1 The development of the committee system: how and why?

31

(1)

1.4.2 A contextual approach

32

(3)

1.4.3 Outline

35

(3)

2 The Transitional Period

38

(72)

2.1 Introduction

38

(5)

2.1.1 The preconditions for establishment of a common market

38

(3)

2.1.2 The national expectations

41

(2)

2.2 The birth of the committee system

43

(14)

2.2.1 The common agricultural policy: a touchstone for progress

43

(3)

2.2.2 A need for co-operation with the national administrations

46

(8)

2.2.3 The European Parliament demands a droit de regard

54

(3)

2.3 The Luxembourg Compromise

57

(21)

2.3.1 A formula of synchronization

57

(2)

2.3.2 The crisis of the empty chair

59

(6)

2.3.3 A clarification of the positions

65

(6)

2.3.4 A compromise with several components

71

(2)

2.3.5 The immediate result

73

(5)

2.4 The spread of the committee system

78

(27)

2.4.1 Progress towards a common commercial policy

78

(3)

2.4.2 The establishment of regulatory committees

81

(4)

2.4.3 Early efforts for harmonization of the conditions for trade

85

(3)

2.4.4 The European Parliament agrees on the need for delegation of powers

88

(6)

2.4.5 The Court of Justice gives its approval

94

(11)

2.5 The end of the transitional period

105

(5)

2.5.1 Economic and social turbulence

105

(2)

2.5.2 A call for co-ordination of economic and monetary policies

107

(3)

3 The Dark Ages

110

(75)

3.1 Introduction

110

(4)

3.1.1 The pattern of evolution

110

(3)

3.1.2 A political paralysis?

113

(1)

3.2 The failure to deal with new challenges

114

(19)

3.2.1 A plan for economic and monetary union

114

(4)

3.2.2 The first enlargement

118

(7)

3.2.3 L'Europe, c'est moi: a return to national policies

125

(8)

3.3 The way towards institutional reform

133

(40)

3.3.1 Initial suggestions for improvements

133

(4)

3.3.2 The responsiveness of the Court of Justice

137

(14)

3.3.3 The second and third enlargement

151

(11)

3.3.4 An inter-institutional campaign for the re-launch of 'Europe'

162

(11)

3.4 The fortification of the committee system

173

(12)

3.4.1 The 1985 Intergovernmental Conference

173

(5)

3.4.2 A new arrangement for exercise of implementing powers

178

(7)

4 The Years of Entrenchment

185

(100)

4.1 Introduction

185

(4)

4.1.1 The death of the Luxembourg Compromise?

185

(2)

4.1.2 A continuity of institutional reform

187

(2)

4.2 The first Comitology Decision

189

(20)

4.2.1 The background

189

(6)

4.2.2 The result

195

(6)

4.2.3 The reactions

201

(8)

4.3 The inter-institutional battle

209

(40)

4.3.1 The operation of the new arrangement for exercise of implementing powers

209

(3)

4.3.2 The 1991 Intergovernmental Conference

212

(7)

4.3.3 The implications of the new co-decision procedure

219

(10)

4.3.4 The Court of Justice strikes a balance

229

(11)

4.3.5 The power of budgetary control

240

(3)

4.3.6 The 1996 Intergovernmental Conference

243

(6)

4.4 The second Comitology Decision

249

(36)

4.4.1 The background

249

(15)

4.4.2 The result

264

(14)

4.4.3 The reactions

278

(7)

5 The Time for Change?

285

(79)

5.1 Introduction

285

(1)

5.2 Summary

285

(23)

5.2.1 The general development

285

(17)

5.2.2 The judicial development

302

(6)

5.3 The actors and their positions: conclusions

308

(12)

5.3.1 The Council: managing the inability to agree

308

(5)

5.3.2 The European Parliament: the fear of a sliding in powers

313

(2)

5.3.3 The Commission: a mediator in its own interest

315

(4)

5.3.4 The Court of Justice: a case of judicial inactivism

319

(1)

5.4 Prospects

320

(44)

5.4.1 The debate on the future of the European Union

320

(4)

5.4.2 The White Paper on European Governance

324

(11)

5.4.3 The European Convention and the proposal for a hierarchy of legal acts

335

(16)

5.4.4 The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe

351

(13)

References

364

(25)

Index

389

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Comitology Delegation of Powers in the European Union and the Committee System

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials