Impact of administrative reform of the European Commission: results from a survey of heads of unit in policy-making directorates

Abstract

The Kinnock reform has changed the European Commission. This article discusses the link between reform effects and policy output. A survey of more than 100 heads of unit (HoU) of policy-making Directorates-General serves as the empirical basis. It is concluded that the recent reform of the Commission does indeed comprehensively redefine the role of the HoU. Their resource base to focus on policy drafting has been hugely reduced. Negative consequences for the organization’s potential to deliver policy draft of high quality are therefore very likely. Points for practitioners This article deals with the following areas: • Middle management as organizational backbone • The perils of decentralizing management functions • The impact of administrative reform on policy output.