The Solvit National Coordination Mechanisms – an Organizational Analysis

Abstract

SOLVIT represents a network for informalproblem resolution in the EU, based on correspondentnodes in each national administration.SOLVIT was initially introduced into the Europeanarena as an alternative to the formal ways (i.e.judicial recourse) of solving cross-border problemsrelated to the four freedoms. The network’s performanceis affected by many factors: experience,political support, information campaigns etc.One key-issue, i.e. where to place the SOLVITcoordination unit in each EU member state, wasleft to the national authorities to decide. Variousinstitutional solutions have emerged, accordingto each country’s characteristics of administrativeculture. Some are more efficient than others. Bydeveloping a model in which variables such ascentralization quotients or speed in solving casesare introduced, the authors aim to discover if thespecific positioning of the national centers (nodes)in the SOLVIT network – as well as a potentialmove of a node upper/lower on the administrativehierarchy – may leverage on the network’s overallperformance.