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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Administrative Fusion: Less Than a European ‘Mega‐administration’

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Abstract This study explores administrative fusion. It is argued that the differentiated organizational constellation of the European Union contributes to a differentiated fusion of domestic core executive institutions. The European Commission mainly activates the lower echelons of domestic government hierarchies and contributes to a relative weakening of domestic politico‐administrative leadership. On the contrary, the Council of Ministers accompanies primarily a strengthening of domestic government hierarchies — notably the Foreign Office. Based on a rich body of survey data, this article reveals that multi‐level interaction of administrative systems between the European Commission and the central administrations of Sweden and Norway occur largely outside the control of the domestic politico‐administrative leadership, Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Office. This tendency, however, is counterbalanced by the Council of Ministers, which accompanies inter‐sectoral coordination and vertical mandating wit...