The Effects of European Regulatory Networks on the Bureaucratic Autonomy of National Regulatory Authorities

This article discusses the effects of European regulatory networks on the bureaucratic autonomy of national regulators as regards regulatory rule-enforcement and rulemaking. Drawing on institutional theory, the article elaborates scope conditions for networks to yield an effect along this property and assesses these arguments in a study of the formation and institutionalization of the European Competition Network and how it structures relationships between competition authorities and resort ministries in The Netherlands, Sweden and the non-EU member-state Norway. It is argued that by virtue of accumulating and embedding strong norms of independence, the network yields an “autonomizing” effect vis-à-vis participating organizations.