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A Conceptual Account of the European Administrative Space

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The Palgrave Handbook of the European Administrative System

Part of the book series: European Administrative Governance ((EAGOV))

Abstract

Despite advances in research on the European administrative space (EAS), no widespread understanding about its meaning, mechanisms, and significance yet exists. This chapter of fers a comprehensive conceptualization of the ‘EAS’ and takes stock of accumulated empirical lessons learned from its development. European integration through administrative capacity building assumes that the ‘EAS’ features a new pattern of European integration that complements regulatory integration (Weiler et al., 1985). Formulating and implementing public policy in Europe have been prerogatives of national administrations. The capacity of the state has largely been determined by ‘the [administrative] capacity of the state to effectively achieve the chosen policy outcomes’ (Matthews, 2012, 281). This chapter explores how these prerogatives have become complemented with the institutionalization of an ‘EAS’ within the European Union (EU). An ‘EAS’ serves arguably as a common European administrative infrastructure for the joint formulation and execution of public policy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jarle Trondal (Honorary Professor)

  2. University of Pittsburgh, USA

    B. Guy Peters (Maurice Falk Professor of American Government)

Authors
  1. Jarle Trondal
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  2. B. Guy Peters
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. German University of Administrative Sciences, Speyer, Germany

    Michael W. Bauer (Jean Monnet Professor and Chair of Comparative Public Administration and Policy Analysis) (Jean Monnet Professor and Chair of Comparative Public Administration and Policy Analysis)

  2. Department of Political Science and Management, University of Agder, Norway

    Jarle Trondal (Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, Professor of European Studies) (Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, Professor of European Studies)

  3. ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, Norway

    Jarle Trondal (Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, Professor of European Studies) (Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, Professor of European Studies)

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© 2015 Jarle Trondal and B. Guy Peters

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Trondal, J., Peters, B.G. (2015). A Conceptual Account of the European Administrative Space. In: Bauer, M.W., Trondal, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of the European Administrative System. European Administrative Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137339898_5

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