The engines of European integration. Delegation, agency and agenda setting in the EU

Book abstract:

This work examines the role of the supranational institutions such as the European Commission, the European Court of Justice, and the European Parliament in the process of European integration.

The work is divided into two parts. Part one deals with the historical and functional patterns of delegation to these supranational bodies and part two concentrates on the role they have played in both the liberalisation and the re-regulation of the European market. Chapter one addresses the patterns of delegation to the Commission and the Court of Justice and then moves to discuss the control mechanisms developed by which the Member States monitor the executive powers of the Commission. Chapter two examines the record of delegation to the Commission throughout the EU's history and contrasts that with the record of the Court of Justice in chapter three. These two are then contrasted with the European Parliament, which has been delegated a primarily legislative role but not the right of initiative which rests with the Commission. Chapter five explores three cases of market liberalisation - external trade, competition policy and the free movement of goods within the Union. These cases are then mirrored in chapter six in terms of decision rules, in three areas of social regulation - workplace regulation, regional policy, and the principle of equal pay for men and women. The author draws together the earlier arguments in the concluding chapter, which deals with both the strengths and weaknesses of what he sees as a growing use of agency organisations and increasing delegation of powers to such international organisations.

The work will interest scholars, students and policy researchers of EU affairs.

Mark A. Pollack teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the European University Institute, Florence.