The implementation record of Britain with respect to the five policies under study is in sharp contrast with its general reputation as environmental laggard, at least with respect to the adjustment of administrative styles and structures to the requirements spelled out in European legislation. Considerable administrative changes took place in order to comply with the Directives on LCP, Drinking Water and Access to Information. Domestic resistance to change can only be observed in the EIA case, whereas the EMAS Regulation confirmed existing arrangements, hence requiring only negligible adjustments.

In contrast with Germany, where patterns of administrative transformation could be understood by conceiving of national administrative traditions as a static phenomenon, the explanation of the British cases illustrates the need for a dynamic conception of European adaptation pressure. This perspective takes account of the fact that adaptation pressure may not only vary with the design of European policies, but also as a result of endogenous national reform developments affecting the core of administrative traditions. The British cases demonstrate that the stability and continuity assumption underlying institution-based explanations cannot be taken for granted in countries which are characterised by a high capacity for administrative reforms, given the institutional features of the political and administrative system. Although implying no complete overhaul of national administrative traditions, far-reaching reforms led to substantial changes in administrative core patterns, hence altering the scope for sectoral adaptation.