Roller, Gerhard --- "Comitology in Environmental Policy: Practical Experiences between Efficiency and Legitimacy" [2006] ELECD 275; in Hofmann, C.H. Herwig; Türk, H. Alexander (eds), "EU Administrative Governance" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006)

Book Title: EU Administrative Governance

Editor(s): Hofmann, C.H. Herwig; Türk, H. Alexander

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781845422851

Section: Chapter 4

Section Title: Comitology in Environmental Policy: Practical Experiences between Efficiency and Legitimacy

Author(s): Roller, Gerhard

Number of pages: 31

Extract:

4. Comitology in environmental
policy: practical experiences
between efficiency and legitimacy*
Gerhard Roller

In the complex European governance system different governance
structures have emerged in recent years. Numerous Networks, Agencies
and Committees exist that have different tasks and competences and that
work under different legal forms. Networks usually have a more informal
approach and do not have executive competences, like the IMPEL network
for example.1 Furthermore, Agencies have become increasingly common
as a new bureaucracy that replace in some fields national executive
competences.2
The environmental policy field is an important example of the significant
role of these new governance structures. There, also, Committees play
an important role. They are present at every stage of the Community's
policy-making process.3 They advise, consult and even take decisions that
sometimes have far-reaching consequences. Broadly speaking, `government
by committee' is now a reality in the Community.
In this chapter, the first two types of governance structures are not dealt
with. Instead, particular attention is paid to the so-called `comitology'
committees,4 which play an increasingly significant role in Environmental
policy. The history of comitology has been already analysed by numerous
authors.5 The comitology committees are characterised by the fact that they
are established by a basic instrument (a regulation or a directive) by the
Council (and EP), they operate according to a specific legal procedure and
they deliver opinions on draft implementing measures submitted to them
by the Commission. Members of the committees are civil servants ...