Current Debates in European Administrative Law – Background and Perspectives

The regulation of administrative procedures in the EU is currently a topic under much scruti-ny. This chapter addresses some of the debates regarding a possible innovative codification of EU administrative procedure law. It does so by looking at changing modes of delegation of powers for implementation of EU law and policy and the evolving legal context of the EU’s highly integrated multi-level system. The chapter therefore addresses questions such as which criteria should govern the exercise of powers delegated to the administration. It does so by looking at how effective decision-making procedures can be geared towards ensuring that basic constitutional principles and values are complied with in real-life administrative action. Answers to these questions also guide considerations about which elements should ideally be addressed by a possible codification of administrative procedure law of the EU.