Effective European problem-solving: lessons from the regulation of occupational safety and environmental protection

Abstract

The outcomes of regulatory decision-making at the level of the European Community are extremely heterogeneous. Many attempts at regulation are constantly blocked in the Council, and others have been significantly watered down by intergovernmental bargaining. However, there are examples in the regulation of occupational safety and environmental protection which demonstrate that the deadlocks of intergovernmental bargaining can be overcome. Examples of best practice tell us that there are six main factors contributing to a successful regulatory policy at a high level: (1) The institutional interests of supranational actors, particularly the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Economic and Social Committee, in high-level regulation. (2) The influence of supranational actors on European decision-making procedures. (3) The role of advisory committees in the process of decision-making. (4) Legislative eclecticism as a strategy of gaining acceptance. (5) The inclusion of non-governmental actors from the member states. And (6) laxity in de facto implementation to ease acceptance.

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