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Universiteit Utrecht
EU governance & public EU governance & public accountabilityaccountability
A research agendaA research agenda
Mark Bovens, Deirdre Curtin and Marianne van de Steeg
Utrecht School of Governance
Universiteit Utrecht
BackgroundBackground
- Shift national -> EU policy making
- Debate on democratic deficit
- Focus on public accountability
- Concern: no corresponding shifts in accountability regimes
- Aim: to empirically investigate to what degree the rise of EU-governance has been matched by correspondent changes in public accountability regimes and practices
Universiteit Utrecht
What is accountability?What is accountability?
Working definition for this research project
1. A relationship between an actor and a forum
2. In which the actor has an obligation
3. To explain and justify
4. His conduct
5. The forum can pose additional questions
6. Pass judgement
7. And the actor can be sanctioned
Universiteit Utrecht
AccountabilityAccountability
Accountability and Transparency
- Transparency pre-condition for accountability
Accountability and Responsiveness-> justification of conduct
Universiteit Utrecht
Three research questionsThree research questions
1. Formal and informal structures and actual practices of (public) accountability
2. How can the accountability arrangement be assessed from a democratic, constitutional and learning perspective?
3. Does EU multi-level governance create specific problems?
Universiteit Utrecht
EU-GovernanceEU-Governance
- Commission accountable to European Parliament
- In relation to which institutions is research into accountability most relevant?
-Council
-Committees
-Agencies
Universiteit Utrecht
EU-Council: accounting for summitsEU-Council: accounting for summits
- Major policy arena
- No (political) accountability on EU-level
Research questions
Descriptive
1. Are leaders held accountable on national level?
2. Emergent practices?
Evaluative
3. Democratic, constitutional and learning perspective
Universiteit Utrecht
EU-Council: accounting for summitsEU-Council: accounting for summits
Research design
1. Accountability for institution building (Maastricht; Amsterdam; Nice; Dublin)
2. Accountability for crisismanagement (Bosnia; BSE, Austria; 9/11)
3. Country selection:
Best practices
Variation parliamentary systems
Variation attitude towards EU
UK, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland
Universiteit Utrecht
Committees: Accounting for expert inputCommittees: Accounting for expert input
- Major role of experts in EU-policy making
- Technocracy Democracy
- Professional Public accountability
- Transparency
Universiteit Utrecht
Committees: Accounting for expert inputCommittees: Accounting for expert inputResearch questions
Descriptive
1. Public accountability of expert input?
2. Emergent practices?
3. Level of transparency?
Evaluative
4. Democratic, constitutional and learning perspective
Research design
-Mapping expert venues & accountability regimes
-In depth analysis of selected arena’s
Universiteit Utrecht
Agencies: Accounting for non-majoritarian Agencies: Accounting for non-majoritarian InstitutionsInstitutions
- Increase in number & range
- Very limited political accountability
- Innovative diagonal & horizontal practices
Universiteit Utrecht
Accounting for agenciesAccounting for agencies
EU Parliament National Parliaments
Commission Council
Court of Justice
Court of Auditors
Stakeholders Agencies
Universiteit Utrecht
Agencies: Accounting for non-majoritarian Agencies: Accounting for non-majoritarian InstitutionsInstitutions
Research questions
Descriptive
1. (Emergent) accountability arrangements?
Evaluative
2. Democratic, constitutional and learning perspective
Research design
-Mapping agencies & arrangements
-In depth analysis selected cases
Institutional perspectiveInstitutional perspective
Assessment of adequacy of detected accountability arrangements
What kind of polity is the EU?• Sui generis• Intergovernmental• Federal or confederal• Other?
