Understanding the role of regional influence and innovation in EU policymaking: Bavaria and Cars and CO2

Abstract

This article investigates the development and implementation of the EU Cars and CO2 Regulation. It explores the role that Bavaria – as an economically- and politically-powerful German state, with distinct administrative characteristics and a commanding auto-industry – has had in driving both innovation in the region and influencing the policy processes at a supra-national level. Utilising notions from institutional interplay, social-political and cross-disciplinary governance, it demonstrates the complexities in multi-level, multi-actor governance by exploring the interactions between diverse stakeholders and the tensions between multi-level policy mixes. Decarbonisation is a pressing problem to which there are high expectations to find solutions, but certain institutional challenges are hindering progress toward achieving this aim. Fostering innovation is a priority for the Bavarian government, ensuring that the auto-industry continues to deliver economic prosperity and a competitive edge in technological development. This article explores how Bavaria navigated the need to preserve economic development and to reduce emissions from the car industry through influencing the Cars and CO2 negotiations at the European level.