Abstract
Learning is frequently regarded as facilitating factor for policy outcomes. Yet, it competes with other explanations for policy change such as bargaining and executing pre-set objectives. This chapter contributes to addressing the empirical question on what affects policy change in European Union policymaking processes by highlighting the importance of ‘reflection’ as pre-requisite for learning. It examines the learning of individual policymakers in negotiating the Renewable Energy Directive of the European Union. The findings illustrate that learning can be hindered from being translated into policy change as actors follow national interests and ‘traditional’ bargaining approaches on the organisational level.
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Acknowledgements
I am grateful to the interviewees at the European Commission, the European Parliament, Council, Member States and Environmental NGOs who generously reflected on their learning and shared their insights into the policymaking process. I am also grateful to Claire Dunlop, Claudio Radaelli and Philipp Trein for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this chapter.
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Appendix 3.1: List of Interviews
Appendix 3.1: List of Interviews
Interviewee code | Official capacity | Organisation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
EC 1 | Senior Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | March 2012 |
EC 2 | Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | March 2012 |
EC 3 | Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | April 2012 |
EC 4 | Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | May 2012 |
EC 5 | Senior Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | May 2012 |
EC 6 | Senior Policy Official Cabinet Energy | European Commission | July 2012 |
EC 7 | Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | July 2012 |
EC 8 | Policy Official DG Energy | European Commission | July 2012 |
EC 9 | Senior Policy Official DG Environment | European Commission | April 2012 |
EC 10 | Senior Policy Official DG Environment | European Commission | April 2012 |
EC 11 | Policy Official DG Environment | European Commission | April 2012 |
EC 12 | Policy Official DG Environment | European Commission | May 2012 |
EC 13 | Senior Policy Official DG Environment/ Climate Action | European Commission | June 2012 |
EC 14 | Policy Official DG Environment/ Climate Action | European Commission | July 2012 |
MS 1 | Senior Representative of Member State | North-Western European Member State | May 2012 |
MS 2 | Senior Representative of Member State | Southern European Member State | May 2012 |
MS 3 | Representative of Member State | Southern European Member State | May 2012 |
MS 4 | Representative of Member State | North-Western European Member State | July 2012 |
MS 5 | Senior Representative of Member State | Eastern European Member State | September 2012 |
MS 6 | Senior Representative of Member State | North-Western European Member State | May 2013 |
MS 7 | Representative of Member State | Eastern European Member State | May 2013 |
MS 8 | Senior Representative of Member State | North-Western European Member State | June 2013 |
EP 1 | Senior Official of the European Parliament | European Parliament | May 2012 |
EP 2 | Member of the European Parliament | European Parliament | May 2012 |
EP 3 | Member of the European Parliament | European Parliament | June 2012 |
EP 4 | Member of the European Parliament | European Parliament | June 2012 |
EP 5 | Member of the European Parliament | European Parliament | July 2012 |
EP 6 | Member of the European Parliament | European Parliament | September 2012 |
ENGO 1 | Senior Representative | Major Brussels-based Environmental NGO | March 2012 |
ENGO 2 | Senior Representative | Major Brussels-based Environmental NGO | September 2012 |
ENGO 3 | Representative | Major Brussels-based Environmental NGO | February 2013 |
ENGO 4 | Representative | Major Brussels-based Environmental NGO | February 2013 |
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Rietig, K. (2018). Learning in the European Commission’s Renewable Energy Policy-Making and Climate Governance . In: Dunlop, C., Radaelli, C., Trein, P. (eds) Learning in Public Policy. International Series on Public Policy . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76210-4_3
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