Well Connected? On Relations between Regions and the European Union

Increasingly, subnational authorities are assuming a greater role in the implementation of national and European legislation. As the EU and Dutch central government develop new legislation, they therefore need to take more account of the increased importance of subnational authorities. Since the direct relationship between the EU legislator and the implementing authorities (i.e. subnational authorities) is not formally defined in the European treaties, the AIV believes that this may become a problem in time. The European Commission should grant the regions a greater say.