Regionala representationers verksamhet

The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical framework, by which one could explain the varying nature of Europe’s Regional Representations. This framework is constructed through empirical and theoretical contributions from both the literature of ‘Multi-Level Governance’ and ‘New Institutionalism’. It is argued that institutional conditions at an EU-level creates an environment in which regional structures affects the way which representations work toward the region’s interests. Structures within the region, it is argued, determines the representation’s access to both information and contacts, which in the context of the EU, is important resources for anyone seeking to affect decision-making. Furthermore, the framework is tested empirically through data collected through interviews conducted with five Swedish representations and from the region’s websites. The framework shows some promise in explaining the varying nature of the representations, though the framework needs to be expanded to capture the full variety. While the framework seems to be able to explain some variation amongst the representations, it seems that organisational structures affects the representations in additional ways than those proposed. Thus, some complementing explanations are proposed to create a more nuanced theoretical understanding