Regional Offices and the Domestic Politics of Europe

Abstract

Since they first emerged on the European scene in the 1980s, regional representations in the EU have carved out a niche role for themselves on the EU institutional landscape and have established a foothold as partners and interlocutors in the decision-making and policy arena which pulsates in Europe’s capital city. But this role has developed over time. In many instances, particularly for the constitutional regions, the first wave of EU representations were reproached overstepping the boundaries of their legitimate role in international affairs, and were challenged — in some cases through the courts — by national governments. In other instances, more modest aspirations were quickly met, and the perceived value added by a Brussels base led to their rapid expansion over time.