European governance and the transfer of ‘new’ environmental policy instruments (NEPIs) in the European Union

This article examines the use of ‘new’ environmental policy instruments (NEPIs), particularly market‐based instruments (for example, eco‐taxes) and voluntary agreements, in the European Union (EU). It focuses on the actor motivation behind the recent increase in the adoption of new and innovative instruments in EU (and member state) environmental policies while also taking account of the external international arena. The article assesses whether new ideas put forward by policy entrepreneurs, such as member governments, EU institutions, expert groups and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), are the main motivation behind the EU adoption of NEPIs, or whether market and harmonization pressures are the main driving forces. It concentrates on eco‐taxes, voluntary agreements and eco‐labels, using the following three theoretical perspectives: (1) policy learning and transfer/ideational; (2) garbage can; and (3) institutional approaches.