Europeanization, Policy Learning, and New Modes of Governance

Abstract

Can a learning-based mode of governance, specifically the Open Method of Coordination (OMC), facilitate Europeanization? The argument is that, in policy areas where the Treaty base for European Union policy is thin or non-existent or where diverging political views hinder the development of law, modes of governance based on Council's guidelines, the co-ordination of national action plans, peer review of reforms, systematic benchmarking, performance indicators, and governance processes open to the regional-local level and the civil society produce convergence towards the EU goals and ultimately Europeanization without the need to create new EU legislation. By comparing evidence from the most mature OMC processes, this article finds that the relationship between learning, policy change, and Europeanization can break down at several points, and that evidence of learning is limited. This is due to deficiencies in the design of the OMC, the lack of participation, and the political/institutional complexities of learning in the EU context.

Acknowledgements

This article draws on research funded by Integrated Project “New Modes of Governance” (www.eu-newgov.org), financially supported by the European Union under the 6th Framework programme (Contract No CIT1-CT-2004-506392). I wish to thank Sabine Saurugger who organized the workshop at the University of Grenoble where I presented a draft (9–10 March 2006), the workshop participants, and the anonymous reviewers of this article. The usual disclaimer applies.

Notes

1. For comprehensive overviews see Zeitlin and Pochet (2005), Borras and Jacobsson (2004), and Zeitlin and Trubek (2003). Sometimes primary documentation makes references to learning, for example the material produced by the EU on the European Employment Strategy (specifically the impact evaluation studies of the Commission). The large majority of studies have been carried out prior to the re-definition of the Lisbon agenda in 2005.

2. See http://trendchart.cordis.lu/AboutUs/pg_04.htm (accessed 8 March 2006).

3. I am grateful to Caroline de la Porte for drawing my attention to this.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Claudio M. Radaelli

Claudio M. Radaelli is professor of political science and Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Exeter, where he directs the Centre for Regulatory Governance.