European Union Governance: Effectiveness and Legitimacy in European Commission Committees

The European Commission has increasingly focused on the benefits it can derive from the greater participation of organized civil society in its role and activities. In the face of general decline in public trust in the institutions of government, it facilitated and encouraged new channels of access and consultation opportunities as a means to legitimize its position within the European political system.

Karen Heard-Lauréote’s comparative analysis of four European Commission advisory forums i...