Differentiated or integrated? The influence of European Administrative Networks on differentiated implementation of EU environmental policy

Abstract

Differentiation has become a core feature not only in the European integration process but also in the implementation of European policies. Among the means to address differentiated implementation are European Administrative Networks (EANs). Through the exchange of information, best practices and advice, EANs are expected to contribute to more uniform implementation. However, the ways and extent to which they do so remain largely unexplored. This article addresses this gap through the empirical analysis of the European Network of Heads of Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA Network), drawing on a unique survey dataset and social network analysis. On the one hand, the findings uncover the EPA Network as a voluntary and informal network with a fragmented and clustered structure around key members. At the same time, several participants have recognised the network as a valuable asset to improving national implementation and developing innovative policy initiatives. Therefore, while there is significant diversity within and across the network, the network’s perceived contributions and added value point to the considerable importance of these instruments in EU policy implementation.

Keywords:

• European Administrative Networks
• differentiated implementation
• EU policy implementation
• environmental governance
• social network analysis

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Reini Schrama for her valuable insights and suggestions. I would also like to thank the editors of this Special Issue and the two anonymous WEP reviewers for their constructive and helpful feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Also referred to in the literature as European Regulatory Networks (Maggetti and Gilardi 2011; Van Boetzelaer and Princen 2012) and Transgovernmental Networks (Hobolth and Martinsen 2013; Eberlein and Newman 2008).

2. There were no replies from Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Spain. Additionally, even though the EPA Network website lists the EPAs from England, Scotland and Wales as members, the network’s membership description does not account for their participation. As the United Kingdom no longer has the obligation to implement the EU’s environmental policy, it was not included in this survey.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ana Carolina Soares

Ana Carolina Soares is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen. Her research focuses on EU governance, EU policy making and the role of policy networks in EU policy implementation and enforcement. [[email protected]]