Differentiated integration through networks? Third-Country participation to the EU's administrative space in times of crisis

This paper explores how the prescriptive scope the European Union (EU) extends to third countries. We treat the EU’s international role as a conglomerate of loosely coupled sectoral regimes – the EU’s administrative space – which may each produce sector-specific forms of differentiated integration beyond the EU’s borders. The EU’s administrative space is structured by European agencies, themselves embedded in various forms in networks of competent national authorities. Such networks invariably include third-country authorities. This constitutes a trans-governmental layer of integration among national public authorities both from EU member states and, to a certain extent, third countries. We thus ask: how do scientific and regulatory networks fuel the EU’s administrative space’s centrifugal dynamics beyond the EU’s borders? We compare three sectors public health, energy and migration. While cases are most different regarding the nature and strength of the network structuring each sector, they all present a particular sensitivity to crises. The context of crisis is not only relevant because of the EU’s state of permacrisis, it also shows the extent to which networks are able to rapidly mobilize their members, deal with ambiguity and learn from crises. Our findings show that networks are instrumental in fostering third country participation, but with importance differences between sectors in times of crisis. This is due to differences in network structure, European agency role and network composition (scientific, regulatory or stakeholder organizations).