National parliaments, seeing their prerogatives threatened by accelerating European integration, have responded by a variety of strategies. This paper discusses divergent parliamentary responses in the light of recent Treaty revisions and the Convention’s reflections on future relations between institutions in the EU system.
ARENA Working Paper 01/2005 (pdf)
Andreas Maurer
This article discusses the status of EFTA and its member states in light of the EU enlargement. It argues that while enlargement has not fundamentally challenged the EEA agreement which regulate relations between EFTA and the EU, it has nevertheless induced adjustments which may question the legitimacy of this agreement in its present form.
ARENA Working Paper 02/2005 (pdf)
Ulf Sverdrup
Strengthening of European integration has also had administrative implications, such as the development of a networked-administrative system where national agencies serve simultaneously the Commission and national authorities. The paper discusses the development of such a structure of cross-cutting cleavages and loyalties, focusing on the case of the Danish IT and Telecom Agency.
ARENA Working Paper 03/2005 (pdf)
Gitte Hyttel Nørgård
The paper treats the classic question of EU legitimacy and debates whether the convention establishing a Constitutional Treaty for Europe has managed to overcome the EU legitimacy deficit. Deliberative theory is applied to evaluate the constitutional process, concluding that the convention by way of increasing reflexivity managed to redress some of the aspects of this deficit.
ARENA Working Paper 04/2005 (pdf)
John Erik Fossum
This article looks more closely at administrative decentralization by the creation of quasi-autonomous agencies. Strategically located, agencies are typically perceived as constituents of an evolving EU networked-administrative system; whether this argument holds truth is evaluated against a case study of EU competition policy.
ARENA Working Paper 05/2005 (pdf)
Øivind Støle
To what extent has westernization of the Baltic states led to acceptance of ethnic inclusion and a liberal order of citizenship? This paper evaluates the attempts by NATO and the EU to promote such a development in its recent member states and considers why institutions and elite attitudes have been persistent to change.
ARENA Working Paper 06/2005 (pdf)
Anton Steen
The paper discusses the extent and legitimacy of EU tax power, taking as its starting point the juridical basis of taxes as well as the putative development of the EU as a rights-based polity.
ARENA Working Paper 07/2005 (pdf)
Agustín José Menéndez
This paper reflects on the position of the Constitution for Europe in relation to liberal-democratic theory. While clearly not a Constitution in the strict sense of the term, the Treaty nevertheless provides a potential for future democratic consolidation at the EU level. This requires, however, that the scope of the Treaty is not over-constitutionalised.
ARENA Working Paper 08/2005 (pdf)
Agustín José Menéndez
This paper is on whether the parameters of power politics in Europe are changing and whether the EU can be described as a cosmopolitan polity in the making. In other words: Is it the case that the popular sovereignty principe must yield to fundamental human rights?
ARENA Working Paper 09/2005 (pdf)
Erik Oddvar Eriksen
What is the relevance of bureaucratic organization to the studies of democratic governance today? With Max Weber as point of departure, this paper discusses the fruitfulness of bureaucracy to political analysis. With regards to empirics, furthermore, the paper argues that bureaucracy as method of governance is far more viable than the market and network paradigms suggest.
ARENA Working Paper 10/2005 (pdf)
Johan P. Olsen
This paper gives a shorthand account of the approach of new institutionalism, illuminating its view of political institutions as endogenous and self-containing to explain political performance and change.
ARENA Working Paper 11/2005 (pdf)
James G. March & Johan P. Olsen
This paper considers the Commission's use of national regulatory agencies in implementation of EU law. On the basis of a case study of the IMPEL network, an informal forum of coordination between national environmental authorities, it is argued that such networks may enhance effectiveness as well as inter-institutional conflict on EU and national level.
ARENA Working Paper 12/2005 (pdf)
Maria Martens
This article discusses whether deliberation and decision-making on the constitutional norms of the EU can contribute to render it more democratic. Observing the procedural changes to constitution-making introduced with Laeken (notably the Convention), it is argued in the paper that such changes have made some progress towards rectifying the Union's legitimacy deficit.
ARENA Working Paper 13/2005 (pdf)
John Erik Fossum & Agustín José Menéndez
This paper seeks to clarify the empirical and normative contents of juridifaction by drawing a line between five analytical dimensions of the term.
ARENA Working Paper 14/2005 (pdf)
Lars Chr. Blichner and Anders Molander
This paper aims to enhance our understanding of the dynamics of change in universities. A conceptual framework is developed to conceive of the contrasting role expectations filled by universities. Furthermore, institutional interaction and adaptation is exemplified by the ongoing process of Europeanization of higher education and research.
ARENA Working Paper 15/2005 (pdf)
Johan P. Olsen
This paper presents the emerging practices of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in research and education policy at the EU-level and discusses the implications for the EU's involvement in these sectors as well as indicative lessons about the OMC as a mode of governance.
ARENA Working Paper 16/2005 (pdf)
Åse Gornitzka
This paper aims at understanding role behaviour and conflict dimensions in the College of European Commissioners.
ARENA Working Paper 17/2005 (pdf)
Morten Egeberg
Does the process towards an EU constitution amount to Europe's constitutional moment? This paper discusses the Convention and ensuing debates in the light of normative political theory.
ARENA Working Paper 18/2005 (pdf)
John Erik Fossum and Agustín José Menéndez
What are the merits of the EU's attempts to forge a constituency? This paper sheds light on the development of a European public sphere by presenting a framework where constituency and polity building are seen to interact, tangibly illustrated in the constitution process.
ARENA Working Paper 19/2005 (pdf)
John Erik Fossum and Hans-Jörg Trenz
What is the role of linguistic minorities in nation building and re-building in Europe? How does European integration affect opportunity structures and basis of mobilisation? This paper looks upon the challenges of liguistic diversity in the cases of Germany, France and Spain.
ARENA Working Paper 20/2005 (pdf)
Hans-Jörg Trenz
This paper addresses the longer-term implications of contemporary developments in the EU. The processes of forging a constitution and establishing a closer political unity are put into perspective; it is found that European discourses - the way we talk and conceive of the EU - have taken a qualitative leap towards a more statist conception of the Union.
ARENA Working Paper 21/2005 (pdf)
Thomas Christiansen
How does the EU's organisational structure affect its impact on domestic governments? This paper investigates Council and Commission influence on national governance. By empirical data from Norway and Sweden it is shown that while the Council consolidates administrative hierarchies, the Commission disrupts such traditional structures by by-passing them.
ARENA Working Paper 22/2005 (pdf)
Torbjörn Larsson and Jarle Trondal
In his Stein Rokkan Memorial Lecture 2005, Johan P. Olsen explores how studies of political unification and differentiation in Europe may contribute to a better general understanding of the dynamics of territorial organization and the balancing of unity and diversity.
ARENA Working Paper 23/2005 (pdf)
Johan P. Olsen
What lessons can be drawn from European integration when it comes to balancing unity and diversity?
ARENA Working Paper 24/2005 (pdf)
Johan P. Olsen
What is the use - and merit - of studying implementation with regards to European integration? This paper offers an evaluation of the research area, calling for more systematic and inclusive approaches to this area of research.
ARENA Working Paper 25/2005 (pdf)
Ulf Sverdrup