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Ever more soft law? A dataset to compare binding and non-binding EU law across policy areas and over time (2004–2019)

Author

Listed:
  • Bartolomeo Cappellina

    (Centre Emile Durkheim, Sciences Po Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France)

  • Anne Ausfelder

    (Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, 9166Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany)

  • Adam Eick

    (Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, 9166Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany)

  • Romain Mespoulet

    (PACTE, 55551Sciences Po Grenoble, Grenoble, France)

  • Miriam Hartlapp

    (Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, 9166Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany)

  • Sabine Saurugger

    (PACTE, 55551Sciences Po Grenoble, Grenoble, France)

  • Fabien Terpan

    (CESICE, 55551Sciences Po Grenoble, Grenoble, France)

Abstract

What characterizes European Union soft law and what are its implications for the EU multilevel system? What is the proportion of hard and soft law in EU policy? Which types of soft law act are adopted in different policy sectors? This article introduces the conceptual and analytical framework that encompasses the EfSoLaw dataset and explains its methodology, advantages, and limitations. This dataset unites information on thousands of EU hard and soft law acts from seven different policy sectors, drawn from over fifteen years (2004–2019) and from various sources (EUR-Lex, DGs, agencies). We present implementation options of the dataset making it exploitable for other scholars and we propose hypotheses to explain the variation in the adoption of soft law in different policy sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Bartolomeo Cappellina & Anne Ausfelder & Adam Eick & Romain Mespoulet & Miriam Hartlapp & Sabine Saurugger & Fabien Terpan, 2022. "Ever more soft law? A dataset to compare binding and non-binding EU law across policy areas and over time (2004–2019)," European Union Politics, , vol. 23(4), pages 741-757, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:23:y:2022:i:4:p:741-757
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165221111985
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Asya Zhelyazkova & Markus Haverland & Rik Joosen, 2023. "Legislating softly: The effect of preference heterogeneity on the share of EU soft-law instruments over time," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(3), pages 447-469, September.

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