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Driven by expertise and insulation?: the autonomy of European regulatory agencies
[journal article]
Abstract Expertise and autonomy are cornerstones to the effective operation and legitimacy of European Regulatory Agencies (ERAs). Yet, we know little about ERAs' actual autonomy, nor about factors shaping it. This article studies ERAs' actual autonomy from public and private actors, emphasising two crucial ... view more
Expertise and autonomy are cornerstones to the effective operation and legitimacy of European Regulatory Agencies (ERAs). Yet, we know little about ERAs' actual autonomy, nor about factors shaping it. This article studies ERAs' actual autonomy from public and private actors, emphasising two crucial explanatory factors: expertise and rulemaking competences. The lack of insights on expertise is particularly striking, as expertise -the "raison d'être" and main resource of expert bodies- provides ERAs with a potentially powerful means to increase autonomy. Relying on a rational institutionalist framework within which ERAs enjoy substantive discretion to pursue their goals, the study empirically compares three powerful ERAs - the European Medicines Agency, the European Chemicals Agency, and the European Food Safety Authority. Based on the analysis of 39 semi-structured expert interviews, findings show that expertise is a crucial explanation for ERAs'substantive autonomy from the Commission. Towards research intensive private stakeholders, the role of expertise becomes less pronounced. Instead, ERAs are more successful in protecting their autonomy by engaging in the risk-averse interpretation of the regulatory framework and by adapting rules over time to adapt their needs: they engage in "procedural insulation". Political salience provides a scope condition for ERAs to use expert knowledge and rulemaking competences more strategically - potentially undermining scientific quality.... view less
Keywords
Europe; regulation; autonomy; know how; EU; governance; expert; isolationism; statuary regulation; pharmaceutics; chemistry; food; security; expertise; organizations
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
European Politics
Document language
English
Publication Year
2015
Page/Pages
p. 101-113
Journal
Politics and Governance, 3 (2015) 1
Issue topic
The Role of Expert Knowledge in EU Executive Institutions
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution