Evaluation of the EU de-centralised agencies in 2009

The evaluation scope covers the 26 european agencies. EU Agencies have been developed on a case by case basis following the evolution of the growth of European policy competencies. Issues currently being raised in the agency reform debate in the EU includes: -1- Their accountability notably regarding regulatory agencies which can make decisions that have substantial consequences; -2- Their legitimacy considering the autonomous status and the decision process; -3- Their heterogeneity since agencies are based on an ad-hoc approach resulting in lack of coherence; -4- Their decentralisation which may have limited the administrative efficiency of European agencies located in remote areas.

This evaluation is expected to feed into the on-going debate regarding the future of the EU agency “system” and to help in shaping a future common framework for EU regulatory agencies.