Research question/goal:

This project examines how the embedment of the EU in international trading systems leads to institutional changes of the EU. In empirical terms, the study analyses how the relations between the EU and WTO change the patterns of governance within the EU.
The research questions are (1) What kind of institutional change could be observed due to the international embedment? (2) How could we explain this impact? What are the mechanisms of change? (3) What does it mean for the development of the EU-system as such?
The project shows that (1) embeddedness does not only effect the formal organisation of the decision-making process. It includes also routines, guiding ideas and concepts of legitimate order. (2) These changes could be explained by the mechanisms of adaptational pressure, involvement and supply. In addition the institutional self-interest of the central EU institutions like the Commission played a necessary role. (3) As a result of these changes the EU-system developed in a more centralised way toward further integration.