TY - JOUR
T1 - European Union decision making
T2 - The role of sub-national authorities
AU - Bomberg, Elizabeth
AU - Peterson, John
PY - 1998/6/1
Y1 - 1998/6/1
N2 - This article assesses how and to what extent sub-national authorities (SNAs) are represented in EU decision making. In particular, we compare the European goals and strategies of British sub-national authorities with those of their counterparts in Germany. Our central argument is that SNAs starting from very different positions face many of the same challenges and problems, even if their domestic constitutional positions remain the most important determinant of their influence at the EU level. Influence in EU decision making derives largely from effective coalition building, both with other like-minded actors but also, inevitably in the case of sub-national authorities, with central governments. Our case study highlights the enormous diversity of relationships between central governments and 'their' SNAs across the Union. It thus encourages scepticism about the feasibility of a 'Europe of the Regions'.
AB - This article assesses how and to what extent sub-national authorities (SNAs) are represented in EU decision making. In particular, we compare the European goals and strategies of British sub-national authorities with those of their counterparts in Germany. Our central argument is that SNAs starting from very different positions face many of the same challenges and problems, even if their domestic constitutional positions remain the most important determinant of their influence at the EU level. Influence in EU decision making derives largely from effective coalition building, both with other like-minded actors but also, inevitably in the case of sub-national authorities, with central governments. Our case study highlights the enormous diversity of relationships between central governments and 'their' SNAs across the Union. It thus encourages scepticism about the feasibility of a 'Europe of the Regions'.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0041125868&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1467-9248.00137
DO - 10.1111/1467-9248.00137
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0041125868
SN - 0032-3217
VL - 46
SP - 219
EP - 235
JO - Political Studies
JF - Political Studies
IS - 2
ER -