Introduction

This Chapter serves as the Introduction of the book. It focuses on three main axes: firstly, it lays out the research context, namely the contemporary EU and international trade context which focuses on the reduction of regulatory barriers. This shift in focus explains the inclusion of the Chapters on Regulatory Cooperation, which are examined in the present book. Secondly, it introduces the concept of Regulatory Cooperation, it explains its nature and the debate that it has sparked amongst the practice and academics. Last but not least, it develops the research question of the book, on the basis of the gaps identified in the academic literature and outlines the research methodology for each Chapter and the book as a whole.