This research has analysed the decentralised national mechanisms of EU policy coordination of both Germany and the Netherlands between the years 2000-2021, and to what extent these mechanisms have...Show moreThis research has analysed the decentralised national mechanisms of EU policy coordination of both Germany and the Netherlands between the years 2000-2021, and to what extent these mechanisms have changed over time. By employing a deductive positive explanatory research design including a qualitative comparative case-study design method, the research has found that over the period of two decades, both the German and Dutch mechanism have only experienced low levels of change, and the fundamental and individual characteristics of both decentralised systems of EU policy coordination have remained unchanged. These findings support the assumptions of the research as formulated in H1 in accordance with the arguments of Historical Institutionalism and path dependency. The thesis proposes that further research is needed in order to create a more up-to-date comprehensive framework in categorising centralised vs decentralised EU policy coordination mechanisms and their essential characteristics, and the degree of change that these mechanisms might experience over time.Show less
The object of this research is to find out what can positively influence the gender mainstreaming performance of European Parliament Committees through the comparison of two very similar Committees...Show moreThe object of this research is to find out what can positively influence the gender mainstreaming performance of European Parliament Committees through the comparison of two very similar Committees: The Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Various possible main explanatory variables are analysed following a Most Similar System Design II. The Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs are considered similar because of the political affiliation of their members and their character of economic Committees. The analysis of the Committees’ membership, a keyword-in-context analysis of the Commission’s legislative proposals to the two Committees considered, and interviews with MEPs and Assistants made it possible to provide answers to the hypotheses formulated through a careful review of previous literature and theories. The role of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality and the integration of gender-related issues in the EU Commission’s legislative proposals are found to represent a significant a major influence on the Committees’ gender mainstreaming implementation. As a result of this research, two policies are suggested, namely the introduction of gender quotas of 50% in the European Parliament and more detailed gender mainstreaming step-by-step guidelines for EP Committees. These policy changes are expected to guarantee an improvement in gender mainstreaming strategies and to reach gender equality at the EU level.Show less
