The power of the centre

This book examines a hitherto under-researched aspect of the European Union’s policy process – the extent and the nature of the involvement of central governments in the implementation of EU public policy. It discusses how the co-ordination of these institutions affects their capacity to shape the way in which the commitments that they make in Brussels are turned into concrete reality at the national level. It shows that the nature of their involvement in implementation reflects the pattern of their involvement in the formulation of EU policy.

However, since implementation unfolds over long periods of time, its patterns can change over time. The author draws on empirical evidence regarding the liberalisation of public procurement to demonstrate how the institutions of central governments bring about change. Comparing the central governments of Greece, France and Britain over a twenty-five year period, the author demonstrates that – far from being the passive conduits of pressure emanating from the EU – the institutions of national central governments actively steer the implementation of EU public policy.