[WORKING PAPER] Kelbel, C. & Navarro, J. (2021), Working Paper on Interinstitutional Relations in the EU, RECONNECT EU-Project, October 2020

Abstract

WOP6.2 aims at considering and reforming practices of democracyin the EU. It looks empirically at three different (but complementary) types of interinstitutional relations involving the EP. First, some decisions require the consent of all (institutional) actors implicated. For the EP, such ‘joint decisions’, epitomized by the participation in the legislative process, involve a negotiationorbargaining with the other institutions (i.e.the Commission and the Councilof the EU). Second, the scrutiny and oversight of other institutions’ activities is another way through which institutions interact. Typically, in a parliamentary system, parliaments are in charge of examining and challenging the government. In the EU, similarly, the EP holds a power of scrutiny over‘executive’institutions and agencies. Thirdly, even if they have no formal right to take part in the decision–making process or to hold other institutions accountable, institutions may attempt to influence each other, notably by sharing and disseminating information.

The working paper proceeds as follows. It starts by a historical review of the development of interinstitutional relations, with a focus on the EP. The third section of the working paper deals with legislative practices. It employs a new original dataset, namely the 2020 ESPOL–EPRG MEP survey, to explore how MEPs view and participate in the EU decision–making in the legislative domain. Then, we shed light on non–legislative practices by focusing on parliamentary questions, taking an original approach that looks at questions asked to the ECB. In a next and final step, we consider inter–parliamentary cooperation, in part by analysingmore specifically the involvement of MPs and MEPs from (majority and) opposition parties in the Inter–parliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the EU.

Access full working paper

DISCLAIMER

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 770142. The information in this deliverable reflects only the authors’ views and the European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

DISSEMINATION LEVEL : Public

Project: RECONNECT –Reconciling Europe with its Citizens through Democracy and Rule of Law

GA: 770142

Horizon 2020: H2020-SC6-CULT-COOP-2017-two-stage