Research Papers

The coexistence of different governance mechanisms at the EU level is nothing novel to European integration scholars. Yet, few attempts have been made to reconsider the very concept of 'political integration' outside the context of classic community method. As an anchor concept of integration theory proper (Haas) political integration seems to be tied to the idea of constituting formal supranational authority. In the context of the built-up of the regulatory framework of the internal market the role of national executives was essentially to negotiate a binding supranational legal framework. In contrast, in new areas of EU activity such as economic governance, foreign policy and social and employment policy coordination national governments seek control over all stages of European policy-making including policy initiation and implementation. As implementation often relies on the pooling of national resources a dense web of high-level policy coordination processes has evolved connecting the most senior members of national executives. This mechanism constitutes political authority through routinised collective action is conceptualised as deliberative intergovernmentalism. It too constitutes a method of integration, in particular against the background of an already highly integrated European political and economic community. Empirically, this paper traces the transition from community method decision-making to deliberative intergovernmentalism by referring to processes of institutional adjustment within the European Council and Council context.