Abstract
This paper investigates on the regions in Europe. It focuses on the role of the Brussels Office and takes an empirical approach via two case studies. The first chapter deals with theoretical considerations. The nature and definition of "policy-networks" are introduced by the models of Rhodes and Marsh. The importance of dependency of the different networking actors on each other is illustrated. To assess an actor within the network, one has to understand the extent to which he can control and mobilize resources. However, limits of this approach (concentration on participants, not on influence) are shown.
Secondly, the implications of globalisation and europeanisation for the regions are shown. The new complexity makes the region deal directly with the European level. Within this multi-level-governance, the mobilisation of regional resources is crucial. Civil society plays an important part. The question if these changes towards europeanisation of the administration are "new governance" is raised. The limits of this concept are assessed. When governance means steering processes rather than controlling territory, this may well occur in networks. The question nevertheless of the legitimacy of these networks remains.
Thirdly, the role of the Regional Office is presented with the historic reasons for its establishment and the evolution of its role. A distinction between the "Early-Warning-Function" and the "Platform-Function", is made. The first case concerns the gathering of information on Commission proposals and the way to deal with these informations. The project of a regional European human resources strategy is evoked. In building up a "Euro-pool", the region creates the necessary human resources to send experts into the Commission as well as having the opportunity to "take Europe home".
To be present as a state actor on the European scene, the region needs a platform provided by the regional office. One promising way is the added value of transnational interest-coalitions. Accordingly, the two case studies belong one to the field of Early Warning, another one to the region as a European actor. With consideration of the project of Beate Kohler-Koch, the specific features of the "Baden-Württemberg-Network" are presented and two appropriate cases defined.
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. REGIONS IN THE NETWORK OF "NEW GOVERNANCE"
1.1. POLICY NETWORKS
1.2. REGIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALISATION AND EUROPEANISATION
1.3. GOVERNING IN NETWORKS: TOWARDS A "NEW GOVERNANCE"?
2. THE ROLE OF THE REGIONAL OFFICE
2.1. THE HISTORIC REASONS AND EVOLUTION OF REGIONAL OFFICES
2.2. THE "EARLY-WARNING-FUNCTION"
2.2.1. A European human resources strategy by the regions?
2.2.2. The Baden-Württemberg approach: A "dynamic pool"
2.2.3. The "early-warning-function" as a service-centre?
2.3. THE PLATFORM-FUNCTION
2.3.1. How to build a platform?
2.3.2. Presenting a coalition of interests
2.3.3. A trans-national coalition of interests?
3. TWO CASE-STUDIES
3.1. CASE STUDIES AND THE BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG NETWORK
3.1.1. Case Studies on regional influence
3.1.2. The Baden-Württemberg Network
3.1.3. Conditions for two appropriate cases
3.2. EARLY WARNING: THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT
3.2.1. The Proposal on Public Transport
3.2.2. The Proposal seen from the regional office
3.2.3. Analysing and Comparing: The Academic view vs. the Practitioners Experience
3.3. PLATFORM: THE 4-MOTORS SEMINAR ON WOMEN IN RURAL SPACE
3.3.1. An Institutionalised Network: The Four Motors
3.3.2. The Seminar on Women in Rural Space
3.3.3. Analysing the seminar
4. ANALYSING THE REGIONAL PERFORMANCE IN BRUSSELS
4.1. THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY
4.2. IMPLICATIONS OF THE NETWORK-APPROACH
CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the role of regional representations in Brussels within the evolving framework of European multi-level governance, specifically focusing on the empirical case of Baden-Württemberg. It explores how regional offices serve as essential interfaces for gathering information and building networks to represent regional interests directly at the supranational level, aiming to understand the strategies and efficacy of these representations in a complex, non-hierarchical decision-making environment.
- The theoretical underpinnings of policy networks and their relation to "new governance" models.
- The evolution and specific functions of regional offices, notably "early-warning" and "platform-building".
- Empirical analysis of Baden-Württemberg's strategy through case studies on public transport and the "Four Motors" network.
- The conceptualization of regional civil servants as "boundary managers" mediating between domestic and European levels.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. The "Early-Warning-Function"
The early warning function was probably the first task of the regional information bureau. The regional strategy to get more influence on European decisions was, as seen above, twofold. On the question of information flux, there was a clear mission for the Brussels office: at a very early stage, in the "pre-drafting-phase" and up to the release of a Commission proposal, there is no formal involvement of the region. Neither the Bundesrat-procedure, nor the Länder-observer intervenes at this stage.
It is precisely here that an information advantage can lead to an earlier and more precise position within the Bundesrat-procedure, which may then be transferred back onto the European level. On the other hand, one should not consider the task of the civil servants in the Brussels Bureau as limited to this early phase. Especially given the apparent failures and deficits of the Bundesrat-procedure, a consequent follow-up of proposals in the Commission and during the whole legislative process, is needed.
The main task is still the close concentration on the information-flow of the Commission. Between an enormous amount of paper and even more on internet-information, the general lines of the Commission’s annual work program can be deduced; whilst the details of the different projects are covered through personal contacts. However, as the office also functions as an interface, the specialist officers are also responsible for channeling relations from the home-base to Brussels. They organise direct interventions and meetings between members of the regional government and the Commission, and work on the relations with the European Parliament and its different committees. Within the Parliament, there are different strategies of access. The Parliament can be seen as structured on three levels: along party-lines, the attachment to circumscription, and the division in working fields (committees).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The introduction outlines the transformation of governance in Europe, highlighting the growing influence of regions and the emerging "New Governance" paradigm in the context of European integration.
1. REGIONS IN THE NETWORK OF "NEW GOVERNANCE": This chapter provides a theoretical framework for understanding how policy networks and multi-level governance redefine the interaction between sub-national, national, and supranational actors.
2. THE ROLE OF THE REGIONAL OFFICE: This chapter details the historical establishment and functional evolution of regional offices in Brussels, distinguishing between their "early-warning" information-gathering role and their active "platform-building" strategy.
3. TWO CASE-STUDIES: This chapter offers an empirical analysis of Baden-Württemberg’s network strategy by investigating its handling of a Commission proposal on public transport and its participation in the Four Motors seminar on women in rural space.
4. ANALYSING THE REGIONAL PERFORMANCE IN BRUSSELS: This chapter synthesizes the empirical findings to assess how regional representations in Brussels function as mediators, concluding that the effectiveness of the region depends on its capacity to steer processes within a complex network.
Keywords
Regional Representation, Baden-Württemberg Network, Public Transport, Four Motors, New Governance, Europeanisation, Multi-Level Governance, Policy Networks, Brussels Office, Interest Intermediation, Structural Funds, Boundary Managers, Subsidiarity, European Integration, Institutionalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The research explores how European regions, specifically Baden-Württemberg, manage their interactions with the European Union through their regional representations in Brussels amidst the shift towards "new governance."
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The key themes include the conceptualization of regional offices, the emergence of multi-level governance, the function of policy networks, and the strategic adaptation of regional administrations to European integration.
What is the main objective or research question?
The study aims to investigate the specific roles played by regional representations—such as "early-warning" and "platform-building"—in the decision-making process to understand how they can effectively influence EU policy as state actors.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a network-analysis approach combined with empirical case study research, supported by qualitative expert interviews with officials, parliamentarians, and Commission representatives.
What topics are discussed in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers theoretical considerations of network governance, the organizational structure of regional offices, and practical case studies regarding Commission proposals and transnational network seminars.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Multi-Level Governance, Europeanisation, Policy Networks, Baden-Württemberg Network, and Regional Representation.
How does the office function as a "boundary manager"?
The term "boundary manager" describes the Brussels-based civil servant who facilitates communication and minimizes friction between the disparate administrative environments of their regional home base and the supranational European Commission.
Why is the Baden-Württemberg network considered "state-centred"?
It is considered state-centred because regional interests are organized in a highly centralized network where the Chancellery (Staatsministerium) and the Ministry of Research and Technology serve as the primary coordinators, limiting independent access for private actors.
- Quote paper
- Stefan Seidendorf (Author), 2001, Governance through Europeanisation of Regional Administration? - A Network Analysis of Baden-Württemberg s European Strategy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/7582
