A Conceptual Account of the European Administrative Space

Abstract

Despite advances in research on the European administrative space (EAS), no widespread understanding about its meaning, mechanisms, and significance yet exists. This chapter of fers a comprehensive conceptualization of the ‘EAS’ and takes stock of accumulated empirical lessons learned from its development. European integration through administrative capacity building assumes that the ‘EAS’ features a new pattern of European integration that complements regulatory integration (Weiler et al., 1985). Formulating and implementing public policy in Europe have been prerogatives of national administrations. The capacity of the state has largely been determined by ‘the [administrative] capacity of the state to effectively achieve the chosen policy outcomes’ (Matthews, 2012, 281). This chapter explores how these prerogatives have become complemented with the institutionalization of an ‘EAS’ within the European Union (EU). An ‘EAS’ serves arguably as a common European administrative infrastructure for the joint formulation and execution of public policy.