Positioning the Nordic Countries in European Union Environmental Policy

• Published in: The journal of environment & development Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 393 - 419
• Main Author: Sääksjärvi, Sanna C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications, Inc 01.12.2020; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Context; Environmental liability; Environmental management; Environmental policy; Environmental risk; Flood management; Floods; Hazardous materials; Hydrologic data; Liability; Policy making; Resource management; Risk management; policy positions; Nordic pattern of influence; Nordic countries; successful influence; EU environmental policy
• ISSN: 1070-4965; 1552-5465
• DOI: 10.1177/1070496520933324

The influence of the Nordic countries on the European Union's (EU's) policy processes has been researched from various angles, but there is a lack of research that comprehensively examines all policy positions advanced by Nordic actors within a given policy context. This article introduces a new design for studying policy positions and influence in the EU and examines the phenomenon from a multilevel perspective using an original data set compiled in connection to three directives: the Floods Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks, the Environmental Liability Directive, and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. The analysis reveals that the Nordic countries follow a certain pattern of influencing EU policy that deviates from other states participating in the consultations. Nordic governmental actors exert a strong technical but weak directional influence in the chosen context but are, overall, more successful than Nordic organizational actors at influencing the policy process.