Chapter 10 The European Parliament Chapter by Roger Scully Cini & Pérez-Solórzano Borragán European Union Politics, 3 rd edition

Lecture Plan Origins of the European Parliament (EP) Increasing role of the EP Internal politics European elections and the democratic deficit Chapter 10 Slide 2

Origins Common Assembly of the ECSC in 1952 –Based in Strasbourg, support staff in Luxembourg Institution of control & scrutiny → Limited role –Discussed policies & scrutinised policy execution –Right to dismiss the High Authority –Right to offer opinions on policy; however, a response was not obligatory Members of Common Assembly –78 nominated national parliamentarians → unelected and part-time Chapter 10 Slide 3

Margins to Mainstream Renamed the European Parliament in 1962 Became an elected body in 1979 –Concern re: power of elected institution → delay –Increased number of MEPs Some meetings moved to Brussels Increased power: executive oversight & policy Mainstream institution by mid-1990s Chapter 10 Slide 4

Increasing Role Budgetary power –1970s Right to propose modifications to “compulsory” spending Right to insist on modifications to “non-compulsory” –1980s Inter-Institutional Agreements increased role of EP Executive Oversight –Limited but increased (1990s) Power to dismiss Commission Right to veto new Commission Right to veto Commission President and College Chapter 10 Slide 5

Increasing Role: Policy Making (1) SEA (1986) –Cooperation and assent procedures introduced –NB Consultation procedure dominant Maastricht (1992) –EP became a law making body via codecision procedure –25% of laws processed through codecision Chapter 10 Slide 6

Increasing Role: Policy Making (2) Amsterdam (1997) –Codecision procedure revised in favour of EP and extended Nice (2001) –Codecision procedure extended to most policy areas –Remainder as consultation procedure Lisbon –Codecision procedure would become standard Chapter 10 Slide 7

Internal Politics (1) Complex organization –Due to technical and detailed nature of EU policy –Multi-lingual –Multi-party e.g. EP : more than 100 national parties → Highly organized and strictly timetabled MEPs –Full time, elected politicians –Demanding job for committed individuals –Latterly, more Eurosceptic and anti-EU MEPs Chapter 10 Slide 8

Internal Politics (2) European parties –Multinational groups sharing common ideology –Party ties stronger than national ties NB “lowest common denominator” party agreement –Principal parties: EPP and PES Intergroup relations –Traditionally based on cooperation, e.g. EP President –“Supermajority” Chapter 10 Slide 9

Internal Politics (3) Conference of Presidents –Prepares schedules and allocates positions –President of the EP –14 Vice-Presidents –Leaders of the political groups Parliamentary timetable –Plenary sessions Strasbourg and Brussels –Committee work –“Party group weeks” / “constituency weeks” Chapter 10 Slide 10

Internal Politics (4) Permanent committees –20 permanent committees in EP –Cover almost all EU policy areas –Legislative work & monitoring of policy execution –Some committees carve out a broader role e.g. Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee –Committee chair & rapporteur potentially influential Chapter 10 Slide 11

Power of the European Parliament Internal dynamic –No obvious government –Power widely diffused –Need for supermajorities → cooperation Inter-institutional dynamic –Less power compared to national parliaments –However, parliament will readily use power → more influential than national parliaments Chapter 10 Slide 12

Elections (1) Only democratically elected body of the EU –Important for legitimacy of the EU Democratic credentials weak –Low and decreasing turnout –Treated as second-order national elections Campaigns don’t address European issues Protest votes against national parties –Failure to engage and interest EU citizens Chapter 10 Slide 13

Elections (2) Ensuing problems –Fails to confirm the status of the EU as legitimate political organization –Does not adequately address the EU’s democratic deficit –Questions the role of the EP Chapter 10 Slide 14

Lecture Review From margins to mainstream Internally complex organisation Lack of popular interest Principal concern of EP –Increasing power → addressing democratic deficit Chapter 10 Slide 15