Publication

This paper presents analyses of qualitative and quantitative data to investigate the bureaucratic and legislative influence of the European Commission. The author demonstrates that the influence of the Commission depends on its ability to place a proposal close to the opinion median of the member states and on external opportunities such as the desire to change the status quo. It also is dependent on the Commission's expertise. The paper concludes that the work of the Commission is far more dependent on the member states than anticipated by neofunctionalists.