隨著歐洲聯盟整合的加深與加快，如何理解歐盟獨特的治理模式乃是學術界的一大挑戰，在既有超國家主義(supranationalism)與政府間主義(intergovernmentalism)的兩種解釋典範長期爭辯下，「多層次治理」(multilevel governance)概念的提出，企圖提供一個更動態的分析架構以理解歐洲聯盟複雜的治理體系。本文試圖從多層次治理的理論發展過程之脈絡，耙梳既有相關理論的重要論述，並說明其間重要的理論轉折與發展。 首先，Gary Marks提出多層次治理的新概念，跳脫既有政府間主義與超國家主義的理解框架，提供學界一個較為動態的解釋面向與理解架構，然而多層次治理概念卻未能對歐盟政策的運作模式提出清楚可分辨的模式分析。B. Kohler-Koch藉由比較政治學的角度，提出四個理念類型的分析架構，以突顯歐盟的治理體系涵蓋了這四種理念類型的元素，但任一理念架構卻又有都不足以完全說明其特色。但是無論是多層次治理概念或是Kohler-Koch的四種理念類型的分析架構，都無法解釋歐洲聯盟的「多速整合」(multi-speed integration)所形成的特殊治理模式。F. W. Scharf則依據制度化程度的差異，提出歐盟的五種治理模式分類，試圖提供一個可將歐盟所有運作模式加以清楚劃分與類型化的嘗試，同時又將歐盟最新發展的治理模式加以含括的新理論。其中特別是開放性的協調方式，乃是歐盟近來最新發展出的新治理模式，也是鑑於客觀上必須容許會員國特殊地適用歐洲聯盟政策，但又為了避免多速整合將會危及歐洲聯盟的一體性，因此希望透過此一模式將多速整合的精神將以制度化，因而被視為是歐洲聯盟在決策問題上的一項重大進步。

With the profounder and rapider integration of EU, how to access to the unique governance model of EU became an enormous challenge for academic circle. This article attempted to analyze the significant discourses of related theories from the development of the theory of multilevel governance and illustrate the shift and the transition of the said theory. First of all, Gary Marks proposed the new concept of multilevel governance which departed from the intergovernmentalism and supranationalism and further offered a more dynamic structure of comprehension. However, the concept of multilevel governance cannot provide clear and definite analysis of model with respect to the operational model of the policy of EU. From the perspective of comparative politics, B. Kohler-Koch proposed the analytic framework of four conceptual patterns in order to highlight the significant elements included in the governance system of EU. Nevertheless, whether the concept of multilevel governance or Kohler-Koch’s analytic structures of four conceptual patterns, they could not explain the unique governance model of EU’s “multi-speed integration”. On the other hand, F. W. Scharf proposed five categories of governance model of EU according to the difference of the levels of institutionalization and attempted to offer a new theory which could clearly distinguish and categorize all of the operational models of EU and involve the latest governance model of EU.