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Embracing European Law

Author

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  • Dimiter Toshkov

    (Leiden University, The Netherlands, DToshkov@fsw.LeidenUniv.nl)

Abstract

Accession to the European Union (EU) demands the adoption of a vast body of legislation. This paper analyses compliance with EU directives in eight post-communist countries during the Eastern enlargement and tries to account for the puzzling embrace of EU law in Central and Eastern Europe. Drawing on a new data set tracking the transposition of a sample of 119 directives, the paper finds effects of both political preferences and government capacity on the likelihood of timely transposition. Furthermore, important sectoral differences are uncovered, with trade-related legislation having a better chance and environmental legislation having a significantly worse chance of being incorporated into national legal systems on time. Beyond the conditionality of the accession process, the paper unveils a complex causal structure behind the ups and downs in transposition performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimiter Toshkov, 2008. "Embracing European Law," European Union Politics, , vol. 9(3), pages 379-402, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:9:y:2008:i:3:p:379-402
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116508093490
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    References listed on IDEAS

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