Preparing the Economic and Financial Committee and the Economic Policy Committee for Enlargement

Abstract

The European Union’s Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) and Economic Policy Committee (EPC) are crucial forums for close policy dialogue between the member states, the Commission and the European Central Bank. In preparing the work of the Council and providing policy expertise, the committees exercise considerable influence over decision‐making in the field of European economic policy coordination. Enlargement has been a challenge to the functioning of these two expert groupings, which are often characterized as closed and secretive. In response to an enlarging membership, both committees revised their formal membership rules. This article argues, however, that analysing the impact of enlargement on the functioning of the two committees requires close attention to the set of informal practices and routines which have characterized the working methods applied prior to enlargement. Factors such as the turnover rate in membership and the transparency of the organizational structure therefore become increasingly important. The article cautions against a further formalization of decision‐making procedures in response to potential problems in the post‐enlargement context.