ROBERT Cécile

Sciences Po Lyon, Triangle

The place of expertise in the construction of European public policies

My general reflection on the place of expertise in the construction of European public policies is based on recent and older studies on how expertise is resorted to within the European political system and a synthesis of international works on these issues. In this perspective, I will focus on the institutions that call on expertise and throw light on the specific role of the European Commission in this field. I will then mention how and what type of expertise is valued. I will also explore the lessons to be drawn from the EC’s call on expertise as it involves building public action issues specifically and is similar to a mechanism of social and political selection of the actors likely to access European decision-making processes.