The European Union, as a regulatory polity based on integration through law, arguably relies more on legal compliance with its policies than any other political system. Proceeding from this point of departure, this book puts the spotlight on the subnational tier and scrutinizes its role in ensuring compliance. Drawing on a dataset of infringement proceedings against federal and regionalized member states, the book shows that strong shared rule, i.e., strong cooperation between national and subnational authorities, can improve national compliance records. In contrast, policy sectors with strong redistributive consequences impair subnational authorities’ capacity to comply. In short, policy and politics matter more than polity.
Author(s): Stephan Lutzenberger
Series: The Future of Europe
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 148
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Noncompliance in a Multilevel System
The Argument
Findings
Method and Data
Chapter Outline
References
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Subnational Authorities and Compliance with EU Legislation—A Conceptual Framework
Downscaling Compliance Theories—Towards a Multilevel Compliance Model
The Macro-Perspective—Subnational Authorities and Policy-Shaping
The Micro-Perspective—Subnational Authorities and Policy-Taking
Subnational Authorities in EU Policy-Shaping and Policy-Taking—Opportunities and Pitfalls for Compliance
References
2 Politics Beats Polity: Self-Rule, Shared Rule, and Member States’ Compliance
Quantitative Evidence
Hypotheses
Data and Operationalization
Analysis
Discussion
Case Study
Case Selection and Hypotheses
Devolution in the UK
The Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
The Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive
Brexit—Disrupted Coordination and the End of Shared Rule
Discussion
References
3 Policy Beats Polity: Complexity, Misfit, and Subnational Authorities’ Compliance
Quantitative Evidence
Hypotheses
Data and Operationalization
Analysis
Discussion
Case Study
Case Selection and Hypotheses
Brittany
Bavaria
Discussion
References
4 Conclusion: The Need for Multilevel Cooperation
Summary of Findings
Policy Recommendations
References
