Conclusion: main findings and implications

This chapter does not only sum up the findings of the empirical chapters, but also puts them in a comparative perspective along the six hypotheses of the thesis. Regarding the hypotheses on the focus of the Commission’s ambition, the chapter reiterates the shift away from the concept of ever-closer Union across the two policy areas. This is interesting also because the two policy areas were at different stages, one being in crisis mode desperate for workable solutions (JHA), and the other in a post-crisis focus on delivery of the solutions that were already adopted (EMU). It is likely that the future Commissions will continue operating with similar ambitions, given how that the context has driven the Commission’ ambition to a significant degree. The chapter also emphasizes how the findings build on the theory-informed hypotheses, especially when it comes to the (internal) limits to the Commission’s pragmatic approach to new governance models, and (external) limits to its political ambitions. Regarding the level of the ambition, the chapter confirms that the Commission was not a passive actor in any of the policy episodes. It did not sit and wait for a consensus to be reached before putting forward solutions, both empirical chapters confirmed this. The chapter however also finds through a comparative analysis that the Member States were able to find alternative governance and reform venues in different policy areas if the Commission was too stubborn with its initial ambitions. This is a great danger for the future Commissions and another reason to play strategically.