Clearing the Air: An QCA Analysis of Compliance with the 2008 EU Ambient Air Quality Directive

The European Union has long flaunted itself as a leader in environmental policies, ranging from reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to promoting the use of renewable energy sources. To ensure the success of such ambitious policies, the compliance of all member states with the EU’s directives is essential. However, despite their obligation, some countries fail to do so. Why do differences exist in compliance when it comes to environmental policies that appear to be so central to the Union’s agenda? This thesis examines that gap by using the case of the 2008 EU Ambient Air Quality Directive as an example of a long-standing ‘green’ directive. This research will explore why several EU member states did not comply with this directive, using several possible explanations identified by scholars over the years. Rather than identifying a single cause, it will explore potential combinations of factors, by conducting a qualitative comparative analysis. The findings show that the combination of low regional authority with either high financial capacities or efficient or ‘green’ prior policy choices is most likely to cause compliance. This thesis has implications for understanding EU coherence and the struggles with implementing environmental policies at large.