EU environmental governance

Question 1

EU institutions

Answer 1

Policy making =
European Commission - exclusive right of initiative
European Parliament - represents the public
Council of the EU - 28 member state ministers; varies by policy issue

General direction and authority =
European Council - 28 heads of state

Question 2

Transport biofuels case study (?;?) (?;?)

Answer 2

Palmer 2015:
Problems = transport sector emissions; oil price volatility; EU energy dependency
Politics = EU enlargement - more farmers eligible for Common Agricultural Policy subsidy = produce increased biofuels to counteract decreased subsidies
Policies = biofuels promoted as ‘silver bullet’ able to solve several problems - climate change, energy security, rural development
^ discursive framing / narrative storyline by one policy entrepreneur

Palmer 2014:
Manipulation of formal venues in bureaucratic context
Stakeholder meetings = prevent some participating, control agenda etc.
Lobbyists sitting next to policy makers in meeting rooms

Question 3

Bureaucracy and place (?;?)

Answer 3

Kuus 2011
European Quarter has powerful lobbying industry
Dense networks of collaboration
How ideas circulate in a place and get to mean a particular thing = expertise
Schools, private get-togethers
Big difference between old and new member states

Question 4

European Parliament and science (?;?)

Answer 4

Weale 2002

Lack of info - not equipped to scrutinise technical proposals; few scientific staff