The New Government Instruments of the European Union

Abstract:

During the past years the European Union has been using new instruments of governance. In contrast with the traditional instrument of EU law, the new instruments are largely voluntary and decentralized. The project will study in detail three different types of these instruments, namely, the open method of coordination, code3s of conduct and harmonized technical standards. The main research question is: what overall impact are the new governance instruments having on the EU system of governance? This research project aims at providing solid and original quantitative material that can shed more light into this question. In particular, the purpose is to advance the empirical study of the transforming nature of the EU system of governance, and to develop further the theoretical framework of institutionalism in the field of EU studies.