Towards a new European Politico-Administrative Order?

Is a new European system of governance in the making; with new institutional configurations, new patterns of co-operation and conflict, and, thus, new power relationships? Within this area, we first have to come to grips with how we will be able to see pr ofound change in the European politico- administrative order if it really occurs; i.e. how to ascertain and measure transformation. Second, we have to learn about the processes through which change takes place, for example, about the potential for deliber ate reform of institutions. Third, what are the impacts of institutional change on actors, politics and public policies at different levels of governance? We consider the EU as a case in which we want to apply, test and develop our theoretical tools. The overall goal is that acquired knowledge about the development of the EU should be applicable, under certain conditions, to other regions of the world, or other political entities where integration (or disintegration) processes take place. It is also essen tial to contribute to training of students, particularly doctoral students, and to scholarly exchange between research groups, nationally as well as internationally.