Europeanization And The European Economic Area: Iceland's Participation In The Eu's Policy Process (routledge/uaces Contemporary European Studies)

This book examines Europeanization in the European Economic Area (EEA), exploring whether non-member states can have an input into EU decision-making and whether the EU can successfully export its policies within the framework of the EEA. Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, while not EU member states, are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and signatories of the EEA Agreement. The Agreement allows participation in the EU’s internal market but also requires extensive and continuous adaptation to EU rules. Whilst existing literature is limited mainly to the EU’s impact on its own member states or neighbours to the east, this book extends the study of Europeanization to the EEA, exploring whether Iceland, as a non-member state, can have an input into EU decision-making and, conversely, whether the EU can ensure that its policies are adhered to outside of its borders. The author argues that, although the EEA Agreement is not without its challenges, it has proved considerably more resilient than originally expected. This raises the question of whether the EEA provides a realistic alternative to EU membership for other states with close ties to the EU. Delving into the largely unknown intersection between the EU and the EEA and providing important new insights into the Europeanization process, __Europeanization and the European Economic Area__ will be of strong interest to students and scholars of European Union politics and policy-making, European Union Enlargement, Nordic politics and comparative politics. Europeanization and the European Economic Area Iceland's participation in the EU's policy process 6 Copyright 7 Contents 10 List of figures 12 Preface 13 Acknowledgements 15 List of abbreviations 16 Introduction 18 1 Europeanization: An analytical framework 28 Europeanization in the context of the EEA 28 Findings from other states 37 Measuring Europeanization 44 2 Uploading in the EEA 50 Limitations of a small administration 51 The Commission as the main formal point of access 55 Lobbying decision-making bodies from the outside 61 Intra-EFTA collaboration 65 Exemptions and adaptations 67 Conclusions 70 3 Downloading in the EEA 73 Domestic intervening variables 75 External pressures 81 How effective are these mechanisms? 88 Conclusions 93 4 Market competition in the electricity sector 95 Origins and objectives of the Electricity Directive 96 Mismatch between the EU and national levels 98 Attempts to gain an exemption as a small isolated system 100 Transposition without exemption 103 Over-implementation? 107 Conclusions 111 5 European citizenship and free movement of persons 113 Free movement as an integral part of EU citizenship 114 EEA-relevance as a convenient excuse for non-adoption? 118 Can the EFTA states say ‘No’? 122 Conclusions 127 6 The Emissions Trading Scheme 130 What is the EU ETS? 131 Incorporation of the ETS into the EEA Agreement 134 Special recognition for ultra-peripheral regions? 137 Implementation at the national level – or lack thereof? 143 Conclusions 146 7 The Food Law Package 148 Mismatch between the EU and national levels 149 Incorporation of the Food Law Package into the EEA Agreement 152 Adoption at the national level 154 The national debate and content of the implementing legislation 157 Conclusions and potential next steps 162 8 Review of key findings 164 Analytical framework, research questions and hypotheses 164 Is Iceland a decision-shaper? 168 How likely is domestic adaptation in Iceland? 171 9 The EEA: Challenges and future scenarios 177 Challenges in the EEA 179 Future of the EEA 185 Notes 196 Appendix I: Interviews 215 Appendix II: Internal EFTA documents 218 Bibliography 219 Index 231 Iceland's Participation in the EU's Policy Process 1. Europeanization: An Analytical Framework -- 2. Uploading In The Eea -- 3. Downloading In The Eea -- 4. Market Competition In The Electricity Sector -- 5. European Citizenship And Free Movement Of Persons -- 6. The Emissions Trading Scheme -- 7. The Food Law Package -- 8. Review Of Key Findings -- 9. The Eea: Challenges And Future Scenarios. Johanna Jonsdottir. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.