Abstract
Rivalry with the European Commission characterized the first years of the newly created High Representative, leading to a limited discretion of the incumbent Catherine Ashton. The empirical analysis suggests that agent interaction has an independent effect on the room for maneuver of multiple agents. The discretion of an agent is not just a function of the delegation and control relationship with the principal, but also a function of the interaction with other agents. While the member states (principals) delegated tasks of agenda management, strategic planning, crisis management as well as communication to the High Representative (agent), competition with the European Commission caused a situation in which the High Representative enjoyed less room for maneuver than originally granted by member states.
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Helwig, N. (2017). Agent Interaction as a Source of Discretion for the EU High Representative. In: Delreux, T., Adriaensen, J. (eds) The Principal Agent Model and the European Union. Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55137-1_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55137-1_5
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