TARN Research
Whilst much research has already been undertaken on EU agencies and the agencification of EU executive governance, this has often been conducted within single disciplines. TARN integrates a multi- and interdisciplinary perspective to encourage in-depth research on agencification of EU executive governance.
This approach combined with insights from practitioners will lead to a better understanding of the EU, and will contribute to excellence, quality and democratization within EU scholarship and practice.
TARN research is currently undertaken on the following themes:
1. EU agencies in crisis management: EU agencies increasingly contribute to managing crises, such as in response to natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies. However, there is relatively little research on how EU agencies contribute to crisis management efforts, and the challenges and opportunities that arise in this context. Furthermore, this role of EU agencies links to a broader debate on emergencialism / exceptionalism in the EU, offering possibilities for interdisciplinary research at the macro level.
2. EU agencies in policy implementation: While there has been extensive research on the role of EU agencies in policy-making, how EU agencies precisely contribute to the implementation of EU policies in the Member States is still under-researched. This includes examining agency-led implementation efforts, the factors that influence their effectiveness, and their impact (e.g., reform, harmonization, etc.).
3. EU agencies as in-betweeners: The expansion of the European administration into an ever more intertwined network of supranational and national bodies makes it of utmost importance to understand and assess the institutional position of EU agencies within the broad European framework. Their role in fostering the expansion of a European executive in a shared setting raises questions regarding their constitutional position, legitimacy and accountability.
4. Judicial and extrajudicial review of EU agencies’ (in)action: Today, EU agencies are called upon to make political, economic and social choices, especially in sensitive and contentious domains. However, the intricate nature of their evaluations and their in-betweener position may make the effective review of their functioning more problematic. The ramifications of these challenges, assessing for proper judicial and extrajudicial accountability of the EU agencies, therefore, need to be assessed.
5. EU agencies and soft law: EU agencies are increasingly relying on soft law methods such as guidelines, technical standards, and risk assessments to regulate, which impacts actors at the national and supranational levels. However, the non-binding nature of these measures makes it difficult to hold the agencies accountable for their actions. Furthermore, while soft law is typically considered part of regulatory or normative powers, EU agencies have also utilized soft law for implementing purposes, blurring the distinction between the two and creating additional challenges.
The Academic Network is especially active in exploring these research lines in the specific fields of health, migration and data protection.