Organizing for Europe: Whitehall, the British state and European Union

Abstract

The article examines the adaptation of Whitehall to participation in the European Union. Following an Historical Institutionalist analysis, the article argues that the most critical juncture relating to the machinery for the handling of European business was taken in 1960-1961 well before the third, successful application to join the European Communities. Actual accession brought about an adaptation of the machinery and of the processes developed in negotiation to the wider needs of membership rather than a reform of machinery. Thus the most important alteration in Britain's overseas relations since the war was easily accommodated within Whitehall's established approach to handling policy. Developments from the 1970s onwards have largely been accretive and these developments are outlined. However, the article argues that more fundamental challenges deriving from EU membership lie ahead for the structure of the British state.