Process and Procedure in EU Administration

This book is about the administrative procedures of the European Union, which we see as the ‘super glue’ holding in place the sprawling structures of the EU governance system. The early chapters deal with the structures expansively defined, the diverse functions of administrative procedures in the EU and the values that underpin them, concentrating on the respective contributions of the legislature and administration. A separate chapter deals with the important procedural function of rights-protection through the two Community Courts and the contribution of the European Ombudsman. We then turn to ‘horizontal’ or general procedures, dealing with executive law-making, transparency, and the regulation of government contracting. A study of Commission enforcement procedure ends the section. ‘Vertical’ or sector-specific studies in significant areas of composite and shared administration follow, including competition policy, cohesion policy and financial services regulation. A separate chapter deals with policing cooperation through Europol. The book ends with a general evaluation, including the author’s reflections on current proposals for a European code of administrative procedure.