Research

Key words research interests
European Union, policy implementation, compliance, risk regulation, governance, Europeanization, agencification

Brief summary of research interests
Esther's doctoral research concentrated on the qualitative comparative analysis of the transposition and enforcement of, and compliance with, two directives in four member states of the European Union (EU). The emphasis of the research was to shed light on the 'black box' of the practical implementation of European legislation and it demonstrated that there is considerable variation between member states as well as between directives. The study explored the explanatory mechanisms at work; in particular issue salience, legal design, organizational structure of the enforcement agencies and characteristics of the street-level actors. 

Currently Esther's research mainly concentrates on the role of the European Commission - as the 'Guardian of the Treaties' - in securing compliance in the member states. The main focus lies on the potential role of regulatory agencies in this process.

PhD supervisor

Sandra Boessen, The Politics of European Union Health Policy-Making. An actor-centred institutionalist analysis (14-11-2008) (together with Prof. Hans Maarse)

Current PhD students
* Tessa Fox (together with Prof. Marjolein van Asselt) - European Risk Governance (chemical risks)
* Christoph Klika (together with Prof. Tannelie Blom) - The role of information and expertise in EU agencies
* Josine Polak (together with Prof. Chris Backes) - Application of EC directives 

Research projects

* 2009: Dutch Ministry of Justice, Improving mutual trust amongst EU member states in the areas of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
http://www.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/1808a-assessing-and-learning-from-the-functioning-of-monitoring.aspx?cp=44&cs=6796
* 2007-2008: Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, EVA-REACH, Analysis of the Dutch negotiation strategies in the European REACH policy process.
http://www.bureauklb.nl/content/downloads/evaluatiesomsreach.htm