Small State Performance in EU Decision-Making Process

Case of the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale It Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Establishment

Abstract

The establishment of EU Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (IT Agency) with its headquarters in Tallinn (approved in September 2011) may be considered as one of the most positive outcomes of the Estonian EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) policy so far. It was in Estonia’s best interest to create a capable agency that would effectively support the EU internal security and law enforcement-related cooperation. Estonia considered the IT Agency as a good opportunity to participate more actively in the EU JHA domain, and decided to stand as a candidate for its country of location. The process demanded comprehensive commitment and a lot of extra resources. The aim of the qualitative research was to assess by example of the establishment of the IT Agency how productive Estonian participation has been in the EU JHA decision-making process, as well as determine the main factors for effective participation. The research is based upon the liberal intergovernmental approach that has been shaping the EU JHA cooperation for some pre-Lisbon Treaty decades.