We propose a Common Open Policy Service (COPS) based architecture to manage Active Network Elements. We use the generic term Active Elements to refer to any active network component on a node, such as an Execution Environment (EE), an Active Application (AA) or any component of an EE or an AA. Our approach consists in the definition of a new client type, called COPS-ANEL- , for the COPS protocol to support the management of these active network elements. The client type supports both the Outsourcing and the Provisionning models of COPS to achieve admission control, configuration and monitoring of Active Elements. We define a set of policies for the two models to be applied when an event occurs on the Execution Environement and needs a response from the policy server. By using a COPS-based management, an active network provider can control and monitor active elements. Our clients have been plugged into the FLAME Execution Environment, an active networking platform developed in our research group.