Undefined Boundaries and Grey Areas: The Evolving Interaction Between the EU and National Public Services

Demmke, Christoph (2002) Undefined Boundaries and Grey Areas: The Evolving Interaction Between the EU and National Public Services. EIPASCOPE 2002(2):pp. 1-8.

Abstract

Cooperation in Public Administration is of an informal nature because the Treaties of the European Union do not foresee community powers regarding the organisation of the Public Administrations, and for existing substantial differences in national personnel policies and administrative systems of the Member States. However, the impact of community law and administrative cooperation is increasingly affecting the administrative, organisational, legal and political structures of the Member States. Some experts even argue that this form of Europeanisation is leading to a European administrative space or a European model of Public Service in the long run. This article is discussing the how and why the integration process is affecting the national public services despite the limited competence of the EU. A special emphasis will be placed on the question whether the current development may produce – in the future – a convergence of the national public services.