The Evolution of EU Administrative Law

The chapter discusses the emergence of EU administrative law and its change over time. It maps its evolution along three main axes, concerning the internal dynamics between EU and national components, its functional objectives, and legitimacy foundations. The chapter, therefore, tells a story of EU administrative law as one of advances and unresolved issues, of achievements and failures in the clarification of its regulatory project. In particular, the systemic effects of administrative convergence brought about over the years remain unstable, while the constant evolution of the forms of administrative action challenges the functions of EU administrative law of power-establishing and power-checking, and the tension between the legitimacy foundations of EU administrative law continues to cause unease.