CONTENTS -- ABBREVIATIONS -- PREFACE -- CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION -- CHAPTER 2 THE CONCEPT OF AUTONOMY -- CHAPTER 3 WHY AUTONOMY DEVELOPS (OR NOT): AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNT -- CHAPTER 4 A QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF MULTIPLE CASES -- CHAPTER 5 THE CREATION OF AGENCIES AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL -- CHAPTER 6 THE DESIGN OF EUROPEAN UNION AGENCIES -- CHAPTER 7 REGULATING THE PHARMACEUTICALS SECTOR: THE CASE OF THE EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY -- CHAPTER 8 REGULATING THE FOODSTUFFS SECTOR: THE CASE OF THE EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY -- CHAPTER 9 MONITORING THE ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF THE EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY -- CHAPTER 10 MONITORING DISCRIMINATION: THE CASE OF THE EUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE FOR RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA -- CHAPTER 11 COOPERATION AMONG POLICE FORCES: THE CASE OF EUROPOL -- CHAPTER 12 COOPERATION AMONG JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES: THE CASE OF EUROJUST -- CHAPTER 13 CONCLUSIONS: AUTONOMY, INSTITUTIONALISATION AND THE LEADERSHIP OF EUROPEAN UNION AGENCIES -- CHAPTER 14 BEYOND EXPLORATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS: UNDERSTANDING THE AGENCIFICATION OF EUROPE -- APPENDIX I: AGENCIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- APPENDIX II: INTERVIEW RESPONDENTS -- REFERENCES -- DUTCH SUMMARY (NEDERLANDSE SAMENVATTING) -- CURRICULUM VITAE.