European Public-Private Collaboration A Choice Between Efficiency and Democratic Accountability?

This book looks at some of the major themes concerning governance in the EU, namely the focus on market-friendly regulations, output legitimacy and how the requirement of efficiency is combined with the requirement of democratic accountability. The dilemma between efficiency and democratic accountability is analysed in three cases of close collaboration between public and private actors: the European satellite navigation programme (Galileo), the European Investment Bank and health policies, and the European financial market – especially the banking sector. The background to this interest in the dilemma between efficiency and democratic accountability is that this is a time when the borders between the public and private spheres are being re-evaluated, transferred and becoming more porous. The author makes a compelling case to show that authority is being shared between public and private actors, rather than power being delegated – inn contrast with the apparent mode of democratic accountability. 

European Public–Private Collaboration will be warmly welcomed by postgraduate students and researchers of European studies and public policy.