Policy mixes across vertical levels of governance in the EU: The case of the sustainable energy transition in Latvia
Inese Zepa, Volker H. Hoffmann
Abstract
The European Green Deal requires policy alignment horizontally across policy areas but also vertically across governance levels. Accordingly, the diversity of actors and their preferences can hinder sociotechnical transitions. We, therefore, ask: How do policy mixes unfold across vertical scales of governance in sociotechnical transitions? We analyse vertical policy mix characteristics, considering consistency, coherence, comprehensiveness, and credibility, and the inherent feedback loops between politics and policy. Drawing on empirical evidence from Latvia, gathered through content analysis and interviews with senior stakeholders, we highlight two key findings: First, friction points in policy coherence between the national-local governance levels feed back into the vertical policy mix, as EU-level policy strategies are not substantiated with corresponding policy instruments. Second, the lack of political commitment to the transition at the national level perpetuates friction points in comprehensiveness and credibility of the vertical policy mix, hindering transition processes.