BEYOND THE JOINT POLICY-TRAP - COORDINATION AND DYNAMICS OF STRUCTURES IN THE MULTILEVEL SYSTEM OF THE EU

The European Union is going to develop into a multi-level political sy stem, in which regions play more than a mere symbolic role. However, t his does not mean that policy-making of the EU ends in traps of joint decision-making. In the European multi-level-structure, which emerges in the process of regionalization, institutionalized linkages of level s are limited, informal relations are more important. In addition, not only governments, but also other actors from the public and the priva te sector participate. Such conditions advance flexibility and dynamic s of structures. The multi-level structure constitutes systems of nego tiation, which are vertically and horizontally differentiated and only loosely coupled. They are linked by processes of communication, by me diators and promoters, and allow competition among arenas which stimul ates innovation. Patterns of loose coupling differ between types of re gions and between member states. Case studies in policies aiming at le ss developed regions and at city regions in France and Germany should illustrate these hypotheses.