Local Government in the European Union

This book addresses the 'bigger picture' of local-European relations and adds a new dimension to existing studies on multilevel governance and the Europeanisation of local government. Drawing from a combination of European integration theories and operational approaches, it introduces the idea of an integration cycle in which local government responds to the top-down impact of the EU internally, horizontally and vertically. This volume presents a wide range of empirical examples to demonstrate how local authorities across Europe have changed their practices, orientation and preferences, and adapted their institutions and organisation. Not only do cities, towns and counties cooperate with each other across borders and through transnational networks and partnerships, but by mobilising formally and informally, local actors participate in and influence European governance and contribute to the future trajectories of European integration, thereby completing the integration cycle.

Draws on integration theories and operational approaches to explain the integration of local government into the EU polity Builds an analytical framework for study using macro- and micro-dynamics Posits an integration cycle, in which local government responds to the top-down impact of integration, and thus shapes future integration

Autorentext

Marius Guderjan is a Lecturer and Researcher in British Politics at the Centre for British Studies at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.

Tom Verhelst is an Assistant Professor in Local Politics at the Centre for Local Politics at Ghent University, Belgium, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Local Governance at the Department of Political Sciences at Maastricht University, the Netherlands.

Klappentext

This book addresses the bigger picture of local-European relations and adds a new dimension to existing studies on multilevel governance and the Europeanisation of local government. Drawing from a combination of European integration theories and operational approaches, it introduces the idea of an integration cycle in which local government responds to the top-down impact of the EU internally, horizontally and vertically. This volume presents a wide range of empirical examples to demonstrate how local authorities across Europe have changed their practices, orientation and preferences, and adapted their institutions and organisation. Not only do cities, towns and counties cooperate with each other across borders and through transnational networks and partnerships, but by mobilising formally and informally, local actors participate in and influence European governance and contribute to the future trajectories of European integration, thereby completing the integration cycle.

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Introduction: Studying European Integration of Local Government.- Chapter 2. The Integration Cycle: Theorising European Integration of Local Government.- Chapter 3. The Top-Down Perspective: Legislative and Policy Impact.- Chapter 4. The Internal Perspective: Awareness, Attitudes and Adaptation.- Chapter 5. The Horizontal Perspective: Twinning, Networks and Territorial Cooperation.- Chapter 6. The Formal Bottom-Up Perspective: Constitutional Status and Institutionalised Participation.- Chapter 7. The Informal Bottom-Up Perspective: Mobilisation and Interest Representation.- Chapter 8. Closing the Cycle: The Impact of Formal and Informal Mobilisation.- Chapter 9. Conclusion: Reflections on European Integration of Local Government./