The Europeanization of the political system and the public administration in Germany

Abstract

This article is an analysis of the main patterns of institutional continuity and change that characterize the German federal political system under the influence of ‘Europeanization’. It shows the different degrees of Europeanization to which the German political institutions and public policies have already adapted. Introducing some guiding theoretical approaches that have been applied to raise the analytical validity of Europeanization, it attempts to explain the range and the degree to which the German state and its domestic polities, politics and public policies have been integrated into the EU governance system. After analyzing the core institutional features of the German federal system which generally resist European integration, it presents some evidence on the adjustments made to the (reunified) German intergovernmental system, designed to further stimulate European integration. Finally, it presents a brief summary of the lessons learnt from ‘Europeanizing German federalism’ in order to examine whether typical patterns explaining the Europeanization of the EU member states can be identified.