In 1999 the Blair government introduced British devolution as part of a major programme of constitutional reform. British Devolution and European Policy-Making charts some of the major questions arising. Would the UK's centralized and generally effective European policy machinery be undermined by new actors? How would these new actors be able to exercise their devolved powers on matters such as agriculture, when European policy was 'reserved' to the UK government? Drawing upon interview and documentary material, the authors explore the transition to devolution and argue that a fundamental change in the European policy-making machine has occurred. Particular focus is placed upon the new arrangments for inter-governmental relations within Britain
In 1999 the Blair government introduced British devolution as part of a major programme of constitutional reform. This development posed major questions concerning how relations with the European Union would be affected. Previously, policymaking in the UK had been centralized on Whitehall and Westminster. However, devolution to Scotland and Wales introduced new actors; the Scottish Executive and Parliament, and the National Assembly for Wales. This study explores the institutional changes designed to accommodate these devolved authorities, whilst maintaining a central role for the UK government.
