This essay explores the role played by the European Commission. It examines whether the Commission can be seen as a policy entrepreneur which tries to push an idiosyncratic agenda or whether it acts as an agent of the member states, which ultimately control its scope for action.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Commission as an Agent of the Member States
2.1 Definitions
2.2 The Commission’s Executive Role
2.3 The Commission’s Administrative Role
3. The Commission as a Policy Entrepreneur
3.1 Definitions
3.2 The Commission’s Executive Role
3.3 The Commission’s Administrative Role
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the relationship between the European Commission and member state governments, examining whether the Commission acts strictly as an agent of its principals or independently as a policy entrepreneur.
- Principal-agent framework and intergovernmentalism
- Member state control mechanisms over executive and administrative functions
- The Commission's institutional advantages and strategic positioning
- Policy entrepreneurship strategies including agenda-setting and alliances
- Supranationalism and bureaucratic socialization
Excerpt from the Book
The Commission as a Policy Entrepreneur
The Commission’s ability and intent to pursue its own idiosyncratic objectives has been couched in various terms. It has been described as a ‘bureaucracy with a mission’ (Cram, 1997: 31), a ‘purposeful opportunist’ (Cram, 1994: 199), a ‘player manager’ (Fitzmaurice, 1994: 181) and, more generally, as an agenda-setter (Pollack, 1997: 124). For the purposes of this paper, the Commission will be examined with regard to whether or not it can be seen as a policy entrepreneur who employs a number of strategies to realize idiosyncratic objectives.
Sandtholtz and Zysman have referred to the Commission’s role as a policy entrepreneur as early as 1989 (1989: 96). This notion has been supported by Cameron (1992: 72-74). Yet, what exactly is a policy entrepreneur? The term policy entrepreneur encompasses both a technical and a political dimension. Hence, policy entrepreneurs identify gaps within the existing policy framework and use their political skills in order to fill those gaps or replace parts of the framework. In doing so, they gain influence. The strategies employed within this process include the generation of ideas and proposals, the definition and reframing of problems and agenda-setting (King, Roberts, 1991: 148).
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: Outlines the research question regarding whether the European Commission acts as an agent of member states or as an independent policy entrepreneur.
The Commission as an Agent of the Member States: Analyzes the principal-agent relationship, intergovernmentalist perspectives, and how member states control the Commission through executive and administrative measures.
The Commission as a Policy Entrepreneur: Explores supranational theories and examines the various executive and administrative strategies the Commission uses to pursue its own agenda.
Conclusion: Summarizes findings on agency slippage, indicating that the Commission possesses significant scope to act as a policy entrepreneur despite member state oversight.
Keywords
European Commission, Member States, Policy Entrepreneur, Principal-Agent Framework, Intergovernmentalism, Supranationalism, European Council, Agenda-Setting, Bureaucracy, European Integration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the institutional relationship between the European Commission and member state governments within the European Union.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central fields include intergovernmentalist control mechanisms, principal-agent theory, and supranational policy entrepreneurship.
What is the primary research question?
The study asks whether the European Commission acts strictly as an agent of member states or pursues its own agenda as a policy entrepreneur.
Which scientific methods and frameworks are applied?
The paper applies the principal-agent framework, intergovernmentalist theory, and supranationalism to analyze institutional dynamics.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body evaluates member state control through executive constraints and administrative appointments, alongside the Commission's strategies for policy entrepreneurship.
Which keywords characterize the publication?
Key terms include European Commission, member states, policy entrepreneur, principal-agent framework, and supranationalism.
How do member states restrict the Commission's executive powers?
Member states utilize treaty negotiations, budget reductions, the European Council, and national public perceptions to maintain control.
What role do alliances play for the Commission?
The Commission forms strategic alliances with outside actors like business interests and utilizes policy networks to advance its agenda.
How does bureaucratic socialization affect Commission officials?
Officials' countries of origin and duration of stay influence their tendency to adopt supranational positions over intergovernmentalist stances.
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- Tim Pfefferle (Autor:in), 2013, The European Commission as Agent of its Pricipals or a Policy Entrepreneur, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/266929
