Nordisk compliance - En studie av de nordiska EU-medlemmarnas implementeringsnivå
EuropeanizationComplianceNordic countriesPolitical and administrative sciencesStatsvetenskapFörvaltningskunskapLaw and Political Science
The following thesis is examining compliance with EU-law from a member state perspective. The variation in the compliance level between the member states from 1995 to 2005 is analyzed to prove the fact that the Nordic member countries during the measured time period experienced a low number of infringements. The infringements that did occur were resolved faster and more efficient in the Nordic countries then in the other member states. The theory used to explain the Nordic compliance rate is divided between external and internal pressure in a pull and push model. The external pressure is illustrated with argumentative persuasion from the EU-commission to the individual member states; how the state responds to the persuasion in order to act compliant. The internal pressure is identified as a process of Europeanization of the domestic institutions. The material the thesis is based on is both infringement data collected from the EU-commission as well as individual case studies of the three Nordic member states: Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The conclusion of this study is that the Nordic countries have created institutions capable and willing to adapt to EU-law and thus prioritized a compliant behaviour through a consensus-building strategy.