The European Commission, Expert Groups, and the Policy Process

'This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the European Commission's expert committees, drawing on quantitative data as well as on case studies. The expert group system has so far been seen as one of the main indicators of the Commission's predominantly technocratic nature. Metz challenges this view, showing that expert groups are parts of a basically political process, thus portraying the Commission more as a 'normal' political executive than as a technocratic body.' Professor Morten Egeberg, Department of Political Science, University of Oslo, Norway

'Julia Metz has produced a path-breaking study of an under-researched dimension of committee governance: the European Commission's expert groups. Drawing on resource dependency theory, and offering in-depth empirical findings, the book sheds light on the different ways (instrumental, consensus-building and substantiating) in which the Commission makes use of external expertise.' Professor Michelle Cini, Jean Monnet Chair in European Politics, University of Bristol, UK