The analysis of basic characteristics of British and German administrative traditions, as they are defined by the distinctive macro-institutional context given in both countries, provides us with the necessary background knowledge in order to assess the institutional scope of European adaptation requirements. In other words, we are able to identify whether European requirements for sectoral adjustments imply challenges of the core or remain within the core of national administrative traditions.

I have argued, however, that, notwithstanding the general stability and continuity of administrative traditions, exceptional changes in these core arrangements cannot be fully precluded. Although not putting into question the validity of our institutional explanation (based on the concept of adaptation pressure), such developments reduce its predictive reliability. As pointed out in chapter 3, this problem can partly be captured by identifying the structural potential for administrative reforms, which is itself an institutionalised feature of the macro-institutional context and hence might may vary from country to country (Knill 1999). The concept of national administrative reform capacity serves as indicator for the overall reliability of the institution-based hypotheses on domestic administrative adjustments in the light of European requirements, although we can predict neither the occurrence nor the timing of administrative reforms.

The national capacity for administrative reforms depends on the number of formal and factual institutional veto points administrative actors have at their disposal in order to influence and resist political reform initiatives.