Publication
Title
Have the rules of the game changed? Novel legal interpretations and their impact on the EU's legitimacy communication
Author
Abstract
Scholars have often argued that European Union (EU) policymaking should be less technocratic and more political. However, it remains unclear whether the politicisation of policy-making processes by the European Commission will strengthen its legitimacy. Some authors view the EU and its institutions as its most effective outside of political strife. Others suggest that more politicisation will increase EU legitimacy as it can lead to debates where European Integration objectives can be redefined. This study argues that the impact of politicisation on the Commission's legitimacy ultimately depends on the endorsement of novel interpretations of an EU law or policy issue. Here, two state aid policy decisions are compared using a claims-making analysis. The study finds that new legal interpretations made by the Commission led to a politicisation surrounded by questions about the EU's authority. However, if the European Commission follows pre-established rules, then politicisation can strengthen the EU's legitimacy communication.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of European integration. - Montréal, Que., 1977, currens
Publication
Abingdon : Routledge journals, taylor & francis ltd , 2024
ISSN
0703-6337
0143-6597 [online]
DOI
10.1080/07036337.2024.2307942
Volume/pages
46 :4 (2024) , p. 499-519
ISI
001148806800001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
The Post-crisis Legitimacy of the European Union European Training Network (PLATO).
Publication type
Subject
Law 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.03.2024
Last edited 26.06.2024
To cite this reference