Does more information mean better EU legislation?


: Sophisticated and reliable information is a precondition for legislating reponsibly, especially when it comes to EU legislation. In this case the laws are being made in Brussels, but it is in the member states that the effects are being felt. A few years ago the European Commission came forward with an ambitious plan to report on the expected effects of several policy options each time it prepares a proposal for EU legislation.

This thesis answers the question of how different actors (e.g. the European Parliament, the member states, but also lobby groups) handle the information that these impact assessments contain. Does more information bring greater transparency and participation? This is no given, certainly not in the current immature system. And even if an impact assessment contains high quality information, it turns out to be anything but straightforward for politicians to use it. Although the fear that impact assessment would only make institutions or groups with a lot of economic expertise more powerful is unfounded, it is true that impact assessment is often used to trump or silence opponents in the debate. Without clearer rules and goals for impact assessments even this instrument, which is meant to be all about content, can become a political tool or a procedural obstacle.

Date and time: Anne Meuwese defends her doctoral dissertation on Wednesday February 6, 16.15 uur, the Lokhorstkerk in Leiden.

1/2/2008