Multilevel Governance in the European Union Gary Marks

26 Régions 100 Départements 342 Arrondissements 4,032 Cantons 36,680 Communes... at a limited number of levels... across vastly different scales Non-intersecting jurisdictions...

Virtues and vices of multilevel governance 1. Efficiency 2. Peace 3. Democracy 4. Moral hazard 5. Corruption 6. Protest 7. Survival

#1 Efficiency Centralize where necessary encompass relevant externalities encompass relevant externalities exploit economies of scale exploit economies of scale Decentralize where possible Eurospeak: “subsidiarity” Lack of flexibility, innovation at central level Local circumstances and needs can be better identified at the local level Decentralization facilitates citizens’ participation in decision-making which induces better quality services

Match the scale of government to the scale of problem: Local: town services Local: town services Regional: water management Regional: water management National: health system, national defense National: health system, national defense Continental: cross-border pollution Continental: cross-border pollution Global: climate change Global: climate change

Why multilevel governance NOW?  From War (-1945) to Peace (1945-)  Affluence welfare, education, microeconomic policy, environment, health, transport

Regionalization in Europe BRITAINScottish, Welsh parliaments, 1997 FRANCEElected regional governments,1982 GERMANYFederal constitution, 1949 ITALYElected regional governments, Strengthened, SPAINAutonomous regions, Strengthened, 1993; 1998.

BELGIUMRegions, communities, created in Strengthened 1980, Federal country since BRITAINScottish, Welsh parliaments, 1997, 2001, 2008; London 2001 FRANCEElected regions, 1982; strengthened in GERMANYFederal constitution, 1949; reforms in 1964 and 1966 ITALYElected regions, Strengthened,1996, SPAINAutonomous regions, Strengthened, 1993; SLOVAKIARegions created, 1996; elected since Regionalization in Europe

#2 Peace Allow distinct communities self-rule Combine communities in shared rule Encourage overarching identities

Ted Robert Gurr, Minorities at Risk

#3 Dictators hate it Dictators centralize authority Democratic leaders may (or may not) want multilevel governance

regionalization after democracy

Democratization facilitates regionalism

#4 Moral Hazard Problem scenario: A) Spending is local B1) taxation is national or B2) Debts are national GREECE!

#5 Corruption What if: Weak rule of law Weak rule of law Corrupt social norms Corrupt social norms Inadequate capacity at local level Inadequate capacity at local level where a reform “mind-set” is not present at the local level where a reform “mind-set” is not present at the local level BUT what if strong supranational institutions? E.g the EU.

#6 Protest Basic dilemma: Nationalism versus supranationalism

IDENTITY Source: Commission (2002 survey), Public Opinion (Eurobarometer 2001)

Elites and public on Europe Sources: a) elites, Intune (Fall 2007) b) public opinion: Eurobarometer 68 (Fall 2007)

Criticism on the radical right

REFERENDA ON EUROPE

A growing number of policy problems are a)transnational and b) distributional #7: Survival

climate change nuclear proliferation financial regulation failing states biodiversity loss ocean exhaustion deforestation overfishing nuclear waste disposal refugees T hese are INTERNATIONAL problems with winners and losers

national sovereignty is seriously suboptimal

6.6% 93.3% 85.0% 11.1% 3.9%

The European Union is the world’s most important experiment in multilevel governance

“Multilevel governance must be a priority.” José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, “Develop as quickly as possible practical measures... with a view to strengthening multilevel governance.” October 2008 resolution of the European Parliament European Union Charter for Multilevel Governance CoR 2009