Shared Administration, Disbursement of Community Funds and the Regulatory State

Abstract:     
Shared management/administration is central to the operation of the EU. It is the mode of administration used for implementation in areas such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Structural Funds. It is however also used in other areas as diverse as customs, the regulation of telecommunications and energy utilities, and competition policy. This paper examines the rationale for the use of shared administration within these areas governed by EU law, and it also considers the problems that have arisen with the deployment of this method for the delivery of policy. The paper analyses the difficulties both substantive and institutional in ensuring that shared administration functions efficaciously and that it is accountable. It also assesses the efforts made by the European Commission and other Community actors to redress problems where they have arisen.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 30

Keywords: administrative law, EU, shared administration, regulation, regulated industry, accountability, agencies

Accepted Paper Series