Networks in the European Union The enforcement of the Ecodesign directive: a case study

Jip Werner

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The European Union has set the goal to become to first climate neutral climate continent (European Commission, 2020). Energy efficient products a vital element for this transition. The Ecodesign directive 2009/125/EC was drafted to provide for EU wide rules concerning electrical and electronical products. However, currently there is a high level of non-compliance visible (European Court of Auditors, 2020). Since market surveillance is the exclusive competence of Member States, the European Commission is facilitation a European cooperation network: The Administrative Cooperation Network (ADCO) for Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. Networks can provide for a solution of the European ‘governance gap’, that exists because they have limited competence to implement and enforce their own legislation and are therefore dependent on the Member States. This research aims at mapping the legal-administrative and organizational obstacles for the effective enforcement of the Ecodesign directive in the ADCO networks and the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (Inspectorate). Secondly, this research aims to see whether the ADCO network for Ecodesign and Energy Labelling has the potential to spur national enforcement of the Ecodesign directive and what improvement could be made. Martinius and Mastenbroek (2019) argue that they key for effectiveness of European Administrative networks is with the collaborative innovation between network members, they have designed a framework for collaborative framework. The results show that the ADCO networks for Ecodesign fulfills al criteria for collaborative innovation and therefore has the potential to spur national enforcement of the Ecodesign directive. However, room for improvement remains, this research therefore also provides for practical recommendations for the ADCO networks and the Inspectorate.

Abstract:

The European Union has set the goal to become to first climate neutral climate continent (European Commission, 2020). Energy efficient products a vital element for this transition. The Ecodesign directive 2009/125/EC was drafted to provide for EU wide rules concerning electrical and electronical products. However, currently there is a high level of non-compliance visible (European Court of Auditors, 2020). Since market surveillance is the exclusive competence of Member States, the European Commission is facilitation a European cooperation network: The Administrative Cooperation Network (ADCO) for Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. Networks can provide for a solution of the European ‘governance gap’, that exists because they have limited competence to implement and enforce their own legislation and are therefore dependent on the Member States. This research aims at mapping the legal-administrative and organizational obstacles for the effective enforcement of the Ecodesign directive in the ADCO networks and the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (Inspectorate). Secondly, this research aims to see whether the ADCO network for Ecodesign and Energy Labelling has the potential to spur national enforcement of the Ecodesign directive and what improvement could be made. Martinius and Mastenbroek (2019) argue that they key for effectiveness of European Administrative networks is with the collaborative innovation between network members, they have designed a framework for collaborative framework. The results show that the ADCO networks for Ecodesign fulfills al criteria for collaborative innovation and therefore has the potential to spur national enforcement of the Ecodesign directive. However, room for improvement remains, this research therefore also provides for practical recommendations for the ADCO networks and the Inspectorate.

Keywords

eu, governances, networks governance, public policy

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 10. 2020

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 19. 8. 2020
• Supervisor: Prof. Judith van Erp
• Reader: Mgr. Monika Brusenbauch Meislová, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
International Territorial Studies / European Governance