The accommodation of diversity in European policy‐making and its outcomes: Regulatory policy as a patchwork

Abstract

European regulatory policy‐making unfolds in the context of diverse interests and traditions of member states. These diverse policy traditions clash in the European arena and have to be brought into balance. In the course of this process, some common co‐ordination patterns emerge which, embedded in European institutions, are typical of regulatory policy‐making in Europe. These patterns include a ‘first mover’ strategy by member states, ‘problem‐solving’, and ‘negative co‐ordination, bargaining and compensation’. The result of the dynamic of these co‐ordination patterns in regulatory policy‐making is a policy patchwork at the European level. The diverse co‐ordination patterns and their typical paths and policy consequences are illustrated by discussion of European legislation in the field of clean air policy.