This book assesses the role of EU agencies and networks of regulators from a legal perspective, thus linking the role of law to the debates on network governance. Two case studies form the core of the research: EU energy and electronic communications regulation.
The institutional design of EU energy and electronic communications regulation has evolved in the last two decades. Mechanisms to encourage cooperation between national regulatory authorities have progressively been established: first, loose networks of regulators, then enhanced networks of regulators and eventually stronger and more formal forms of coordination, through European agencies or other new institutional models. In the energy field, a true ‘networked’ European agency has been created: the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). In telecoms, a two-tier institutional structure has been set up: the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Office. The features of ACER and BEREC clearly show the intention to institutionalise the existing networks of regulators and confer a higher status upon them, with a strengthened and recognised position in the EU. However, the transformation of regulatory networks into European agencies and other hybrid institutional network models raises concerns of legitimacy and accountability.
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