The Lisbon Strategy and the politicization of EU policy-making: the case of the Services Directive

This contribution explores how the Lisbon Strategy affected the politics of policy-making surrounding the Services Directive (2006).

The Lisbon Strategy promoted a fundamental rethink of how to integrate service markets for enhancing the competitiveness of the European economy, without clear evidence that it was politically viable or even desired at the national level. Specifically, it examines how the Lisbon Strategy provoked the introduction of a radical policy idea without organizing a meaningful consultation with non-state actors at the preparatory stage. This mismatch between the ideational and organizational components resulted in a politicization of the process, eventually empowering the European Parliament.