Abstract
This article examines how European Union secondary legislation influences national laws within multilevel orders. As an associated non-EU member, Norway applies most EU laws, with some exceptions. This study focuses on Norway’s non-compliance with the EU Mining Waste Directive. It investigates the reasons behind the controversial approval of a permit for the disposal of mining waste into the fjords, which contravened the EU directive. The case is analysed through the lens of a multidimensional model of administrative behaviour to explore different explanations for the agency’s failure to enforce the directive. The findings suggest that non-compliance was due in part to the national agency’s responsiveness to political signals from the government, which prioritised domestic concerns over EU law. The article’s findings highlight the complex interplay between political objectives and public administration in the application of EU law. The study contributes to the larger debate on the tension between national sovereignty and EU legal obligations, providing useful information that could inform future EU regulatory practices and national compliance strategies.
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Alicia Noellie Saes-Louarn
Fjords of sovereignty: a case study of selective non-compliance in the Norwegian Environment Agency
Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 2025