Publication

This paper examines the requirements of good policymaking in the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) pillar of the European Union. The author argues that the present pillar structure of the EU is unsatisfactory and unclear. Whether the JHA system is well-managed depends on the presence of high levels of trust, adequate flexibility, good coordination and efficiency in terms of cost, and the rapidity of its response to requests for information and cooperation. These qualities are basic to assessing convergence and divergence between member states, and help provide the analytical tools needed for introducing greater clarity in policy discussions.