“Formal transposition of European legislation: How to explain the differences in success in environmental policy between Member-States?”

Bursens, Peter. (2001) “Formal transposition of European legislation: How to explain the differences in success in environmental policy between Member-States?” . In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2001 (7th), May 31-June 2, 2001, pages 28, Madison, Wisconsin.

Abstract

This paper … focuses on two countries that are in many respects interesting from the perspective of implementation: Belgium and Denmark. We hold the opinion that comparative analysis of these two member states can provide additional understanding of implementation failure of European environmental policies in Belgium. First of all, Belgium and Denmark differ from each other with respect to their European profile and implementation performance. Both countries face a paradoxical situation, but in opposite ways. While Belgium is known as the champion of European integration, it is quite often confronted with implementation problems. Denmark, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the more skeptical member states but seems to be very good in implementing European policies. Both countries also differ with respect to many other features, which have major impact on their European policies and politics: Belgium is a federal state, Denmark a centralized one; Belgium is a founding father of the EU, Denmark only joined in 1973; Belgium lies on the border of northern and southern culture, Denmark is a prototype of a northern culture.