AbstractIn spite of the EC supranational character, the system is strongly marked by the presence of States eager to exercise their influence at all stages of decision-making, including the formation of the European Commission's proposals. In this context, opportunities for independent scientific debate and for consensus among experts are hampered, with the resulting loss of legitimacy of EC regulatory decisions. This may be further affected by the lack of transparency of EC procedures, which limits public awareness and scholarly inquiry.Special attention is paid to the EC environmental policy, because the need for scientific advice is evident, and the boundaries of EC and State intervention are particularly vague. Possible institutional reforms are suggested that might improve the system's quality and procedural justice.