The willing, the unwilling and the unable – explaining implementation of the EU Biofuels Directive
Author
Summary, in English
In this article we test current knowledge of policy implementation in multi-level governance systems and focus on the case of transport biofuels. The EU biofuel directive is a highly debated case with a disappointing implementation record. We probe a set of implementation hypotheses in a qualitative comparative analysis, offering a systematic comparison of ten member states between 2003 and 2006. The findings show that implementation of the EU biofuels policy is a complex phenomenon where combinations of causal conditions, and not single conditions, produces the outcome. We conclude that implementation is more likely when favourable conditions are present, in agreement with previous studies. Non-implementation, on the other hand, is explained by a dichotomy between the unable ¬ and the unwilling. The lack of willingness exposes to failure even the fittest national system.
Department/s
Publishing year
2010
Language
English
Pages
545-563
Publication/Series
Journal of European Public Policy
Volume
17
Issue
4
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Topic
- Energy Systems
- Political Science
Keywords
- European Union
- Transport biofuels
- EU policy
- Qualitative comparative analysis
- Multi-level governance
Status
Published
Project
- IMPACT
Research group
- Miljöpolitik
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1350-1763