Debates in the European Parliament Dr. Teija Tiilikainen Network for European Studies

The European Parliament as a Parliament The EU as a parliamentary regime: Direct parliamentary elections Parliamentary responsibility of the government (the Commission) The political organisation of the EP in transnational party- groups Key differences: No government-opposition constellation No European electoral programmes or campaigns MEP’s lack a right to make legislative initiatives

The European Parliament as a Parliament The EP as a working parliament with a controlling function (Philipp Dann) Division between working parliaments and debating parliaments (US – European tradition) working parliament: weaker powers in nominating the government weaker in terms of interaction with the government Emphasis on committees rather than on the plenary Emphasis on expert role in legislative issues

The European Parliament as a Parliament Political organisation: Transnational party groups Chairperson, national party delegations Varying group discipline (whip institution) Parliamentary committees Permanent and non-permanent Key role in legislative processes Formulate the EP’s position in legislative prosesses (rapporteur drafts a report) Draft own-initiative reports

Debate in the European Parliament The political dimensions of the EP’s debate The EP in the EU’s parliamentary regime Safeguarding/enhancing its own powers Making claims for new powers (foreign policy) Raising issues on the EU’s agenda Representing the will of European peoples (Iraq 2003) The EP as a Party Political Arena The EP as an arena for ’the institutionalised interests of the EP committees’

Debate in the European Parliament Key documents: Interinstitutional agreements Programmes of political groups Reports in legislative issues Own-initiative reports Decisions Speeches and statements Hearings