Open AccessThe European Administration as a Facilitator of the European Integration Process: Organizational and Ethical Implications from the Proliferation of European Union Agencies
Author(s) -
Giorgio Oikonomou
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european integration studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2335-8831
pISSN - 1822-8402
DOI - 10.5755/j01.eis.1.15.28805
Subject(s) - european union , parliament , transparency (behavior) , accountability , public administration , political science , european integration , facilitator , typology , resizing , administration (probate law) , accounting , public relations , business , sociology , law , economic policy , politics , anthropology
The purpose of this study is to explore the evolution of EU administration by focusing and critically examining the role of EU agencies in advancing the European integration project. The research question deals with identifying the factors that account for the formulation of EU agencies and the reasons behind their sharp increase in numbers since the 2000s. The tasks are to analyse critical EU agencies’ parameters such as their typology, the policy area they deal with, origin of their resources and funding, and their output. In addition, transparency and accountability issues accompanying the proliferation of EU agencies are also considered. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of the European administration as expressed by the establishment of various types of agencies since 1975 thereafter. Methodologically, the research utilizes quantitative data based on annual EU budgets as well as official reports and policy papers issued by main EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, European Court of Auditors) and agencies, analyzing them from a historical perspective. As a result, it is argued that the proliferation of EU agencies has advanced the process of European integration, namely the EU enlargement and expansion in new policy areas following successive reforms of the Treaties. However, concerns regarding accountability and transparency issues remain in place.