This book investigates the extent to which bureaucrats within the Council of the European Union act as independent law-makers rather than mere administrative conduits. Frank M. Häge, a scholar of European integration, utilizes a rigorous empirical framework to analyze committee decision-making processes. By examining specific policy sectors, the author evaluates how institutional structures and bureaucratic incentives influence the legislative outcomes of the Council of Ministers.

Experts in European integration identify this work as a significant contribution to the study of EU legislative processes and bureaucratic agency. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for researchers and students of political science seeking a granular understanding of Council operations.