Administrative Fusion: Less Than a European ‘Mega-administration’

Abstract: This study explores administrative fusion. It is argued that the differentiated organizational constellation of the European Union contributes to a differentiated fusion of domestic core executive institutions. The European Commission mainly activates the lower echelons of domestic government hierarchies and contributes to a relative weakening of domestic politico-administrative leadership. On the contrary, the Council of Ministers accompanies primarily a strengthening of domestic government hierarchies — notably the Foreign Office. Based on a rich body of survey data, this article reveals that multi-level interaction of administrative systems between the European Commission and the central administrations of Sweden and Norway occur largely outside the control of the domestic politico-administrative leadership, Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Office. This tendency, however, is counterbalanced by the Council of Ministers, which accompanies inter-sectoral coordination and vertical mandating within the Swedish central administration.