The Real World of EU Accountability
What Deficit?
1st Edition
Published on 24. June 2010
Book
Hardback
236 pages
978-0-19-958780-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Real World of EU Accountability reports the findings of a major empirical study into patterns and practices of accountability in European governance. The product of a 4-year, path-breaking project, this book assesses to what extent and how the people that populate the key arenas where European public policy is made or implemented are held accountable. Using a systematic analytical framework, it examines not just the formal accountability arrangements but also documents and compares how these operate in practice. In doing so, it provides a unique, empirically grounded contribution to the pivotal but often remarkably fact-free debate about democracy and accountability in European governance.
With four empirical chapters covering the Commission and its agencies, the European Council, and Comitology committees, it shows that a web of formal accountability arrangements has been woven around most of them, but that the extent to which the relevant accountability forums actually use the oversight possibilities offered to them varies markedly: some forums lack the institutional resources, others the willingness. But in those cases where both are on the increase, as in the European Parliament's efforts vis a vis the European Commission, fundamentally healthy accountability relationships are developing. Although ex-post accountability is only part of the larger equation determining the democratic quality of European governance, this study suggests that at least in this area, the EU is slowly but surely reducing its 'democratic deficit'.
With four empirical chapters covering the Commission and its agencies, the European Council, and Comitology committees, it shows that a web of formal accountability arrangements has been woven around most of them, but that the extent to which the relevant accountability forums actually use the oversight possibilities offered to them varies markedly: some forums lack the institutional resources, others the willingness. But in those cases where both are on the increase, as in the European Parliament's efforts vis a vis the European Commission, fundamentally healthy accountability relationships are developing. Although ex-post accountability is only part of the larger equation determining the democratic quality of European governance, this study suggests that at least in this area, the EU is slowly but surely reducing its 'democratic deficit'.
Reviews / Votes
The Real World of EU Accountability is a fine book...which will be essential reading for those trying to keep abreast of the ever-changing dynamics of decision-making in the EU. * Fabienne Zwagemakers, Plurilogue, 05/07/2012. QUOTE UPLOA DED * Overall, the book is based on a solid and accurate research and provides the European scholar with both precious data and information concerning the accountability of European institutions. * Marco Goldoni, European Law Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Scholars and students of EU studies, EU law, public policy, public administration, European governance, and political institutions.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
523 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-958780-3 (9780199587803)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Mark Bovens is Professor of public administration and research director at the Utrecht University School of Governance and Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University. His research interests include public accountability, success and failure of public governance, democracy and citizenship, and political trust.
Deirdre Curtin is Professor of European law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam and Director of the Amsterdam Centre of European Law and Governance (ACELG). She is also Professor of international and European governance at the Utrecht School of Governance. Her research interests include public accountability of EU (executive) actors, open government of the EU, as well as the constitutional and institutional evolution of the EU more generally.
Paul 't Hart is Professor of political science at the Australian National University and Professor of public administration at Utrecht University. His research interests include public leadership, crisis management, policy analysis, European governance, and public accountability.
Deirdre Curtin is Professor of European law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam and Director of the Amsterdam Centre of European Law and Governance (ACELG). She is also Professor of international and European governance at the Utrecht School of Governance. Her research interests include public accountability of EU (executive) actors, open government of the EU, as well as the constitutional and institutional evolution of the EU more generally.
Paul 't Hart is Professor of political science at the Australian National University and Professor of public administration at Utrecht University. His research interests include public leadership, crisis management, policy analysis, European governance, and public accountability.
Editor
Professor of Public Administration, Utrecht University
Professor of European Law, University of Amsterdam and Professor of European and International Governance, Utrecht University
Professor of Political Science, Australian National University and Professor of Public Administration, Utrecht University
Content
Acknowledgments ; List of Contributors ; List of Abbreviations ; List of Boxes, Figures, and Tables ; 1. The EU's Accountability Deficit: Reality or Myth? ; 2. The Quest for Legitimacy and Accountability in European Union Governance ; 3. Studying the Real World of EU Accountability: Framework and Design ; 4. The European Commission's Accountability Paradox ; 5. European Agencies: Pockets of Accountability ; 6. The European Council's Evolving Political Accountability ; 7. Accountable Comitology? ; 8. The Real World of EU Accountability: Comparisons and Conclusions ; Bibliography