Europeanizing from the Centre? Executive Configurations and Transposition of Community Legislation in Poland

Zubek, Radoslaw (2002) Europeanizing from the Centre? Executive Configurations and Transposition of Community Legislation in Poland. In: UNSPECIFIED, Florence, Italy.

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Abstract

This paper seeks to explain cross-temporal variation in the transposition of Community legislation in Poland between 1997 and 2001. Transposition paths are linked to institutional factors that facilitate or prohibit change; but - in contrast to the existing conceptualizations - this paper focuses on the configurations of the national executive. The principal finding is that a major upward shift in the pattern of transposition in 2000 was correlated with a far-reaching centralization of authority in the executive. Internally, the core executive increased its powers through (i) strong leadership from the prime minister and the minister for European affairs, (ii) reinforced horizontal and hierarchical coordination mechanisms, and (iii) capacity to undertake regulatory management. In its relationship with parliament the executive won extensive control over legislative time and agenda through (i) cohesive support from major political parties, (ii) monopoly of legislative initiative, and (iii) restricting of parliamentary amending powers.

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