Reformprozesse und institutioneller Aktivismus in der EU

The European Union is often described as an 'unfinished polity', with its institutional design repeatedly coming under scrutiny in reform debates. These phases create opportunities, particularly for weaker EU bodies, to expand their areas of responsibility. One largely overlooked actor is the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), an advisory EU body. Focusing on the Conference on the Future of Europe, this study examines the extent to which the CoR sought to act as a 'polity shaper' and influence the EU's institutional development. Drawing on the concept of institutional activism, the case study shows that even weak bodies exploit reform processes strategically.