This book investigates the mechanisms of agency governance within the European Union to determine how independent bodies operate within the complex supranational framework. The authors, Arndt Wonka and Berthold Rittberger, utilize institutional analysis and political science theory to examine the delegation of authority from EU institutions to specialized agencies. They argue that the proliferation of these agencies creates a unique governance structure that challenges traditional notions of accountability and democratic control. By analyzing the structural design and operational autonomy of these entities, the authors provide a framework for understanding the shifting landscape of European administrative power.

Experts in European studies recognize this work as a significant contribution to the literature on administrative governance and institutional design. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a foundational text for scholars and advanced students of EU politics.