Policy-Making Dynamics in the EU (Essay Sample)

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Policy-making Dynamics in the EU
Policy-making involves agreements made by two key players and participants affected by the policy (Hawes 323). The process depends on the number of players involved. For instance, UK has few players involved in policy-making, while others such as the EU have many (Hawes 324). First, a comparison between the UK’s and the EU’s policy-making processes is essential in this discussion. The house of commons in the UK runs the government affairs. Major polices in the UK originate from that parliament chamber. Additionally, in every UK parliament, UK’s leader of the government originates from the majority. In this case, the majority in the parliament link with the government through the Prime Minister. Ultimately, UK’s veto player becomes only the Prime Minister who represents both the majority in the House of Commons and the government.
In contrast, the policy-making in the EU is complicated because many veto players are involved. According to Lelieveldt (240), the process involves partisan and institutional veto players. Institutional players are institutions involved in approving proposed policies, while the actors within the institutions are the partisan veto players. In this, policy-making becomes complicated because many players rarely come to a consensus. Up to three major institutions can effectively block a proposal: the EP, the Council, and the Commission. Furthermore, partisan players within the institutions can also block a proposed policy. Ultimately, the partisan veto players within all the three institutions need to reach to a majority before a proposal can be passed (Lelieveldt 241).
The complicated nature of EU’s policy-making procedure makes it difficult to make sound decisions. Lelieveldt notes that policy-making in the EU is affected negatively in four ways; first, EU policy-making veto players are many, making it difficult to reach a viable agreement (241). Second, many decision-making participants require a majority every time to pass a proposal. However, due to the urgency of passing proposals, the EU decision-makers consider blocking the minority, rather than getting the majority. Therefore, the decision making process is not focused on the majority supporting a proposal, but rather blocking the minority who may be against proposed decision.
Third, partisan players within the institutions also have to take into account the possible outcomes of their proposals with regard to other veto players in other institutions. For instance, the council has to come up with a proposal that is likely to be accepted by the EP or the commission. Additionally, the EP may send a proposal by the commission back for amendments. Every institution considers the acceptability of their proposals before forwarding them for consideration making the process more intricate (Lelieveldt 241).
Finally, many veto players make it difficult to adopt a specific policy that suits anyone’s preferences. Since it is difficult to pass a suitable policy, veto players now compromise and concede to the all proposals. Blocking votes are utilized as leverage to obtain any preferable proposals (Lelieveldt, 242). Adopting al...