The National Parliaments in the European Union: A Critical View on EU Constitution-buildingKluwer Law International B.V., 1. jan. 2006 - 209 strani The resounding popular rejection in France and the Netherlands of the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty has focused attention on the role played by national parliaments in the process of European integration. Recognizing the need for an in-depth critical analysis of the complex interrelations between national parliaments and the European Union, this book draws on political science research findings as well as concepts from European and comparative constitutional law to bring the relevant issues and problems into bold relief. Among the perspectives along which the presentation approaches the subject are the following: how the heterogeneous group of 25 national parliaments can be sensibly addressed at EU level; the ways in which the various parliaments are currently dealing with European integration; inter-parliamentary cooperation; the idea of a third chamber of national parliamentarians at EU level; accountability of the EU Commission to national parliaments; and national parliaments as guardians of the principle of subsidiarity. Although these perspectives clearly overlap, the author shows that it is nonetheless helpful to consider them one by one, because individual assessment of each element allows us to better evaluate what they eventually add up to. As a result, the reader gains a much more grounded sense of how far we can generalize about national parliaments, and of whether they can live up to the expectations of those who believe they deserve a greater role in the European Union. This book is a landmark in the crucial endeavour that seeks to further the legitimacy and transparency of EU action and the efficiency of EU decisionmaking. As such it will be of immeasurable value to policymakers at every level throughout Europe, as well as to academics. |
Vsebina
Introduction | 1 |
European scrutiny in a comparative perspective | 43 |
The call for sharper European scrutiny | 71 |
54 | 89 |
67 | 95 |
The call for more interparliamentary cooperation | 115 |
The call for a congress of parliaments | 133 |
The call for Commission accountability to the national parliaments | 147 |
The national parliaments and the locus of European parliamentarism | 169 |
Conclusions | 183 |
207 | |
Pogosti izrazi in povedi
accountability active addressed adopted agenda already Amsterdam Protocol Article assemblies bicameral Brussels Bundesrat Bundestag citizens Commission proposals competences Constitutional Treaty COSAC COSAC Secretariat Danish debate delegated democracy democratic legitimacy discussion documents domestic draft dual mandate dual-mandate early warning system effect electorate EU Constitutional Treaty EU-level EU-related European Affairs Committee European Council European integration European Parliament European perspective European scrutiny European Union Eurosceptic Euroscepticism ex ante exercise federal Finnish Firstly Folketing functions government’s implementation individual infra instance institutions inter-parliamentary co-operation law-making liaments matter Member ment MEPs ministers multi-level multi-level governance nation-state national governments national interest national MPs national parlia national parliamentary scrutiny national parliaments national stakes national standpoint opposition parliamentary oversight political parties powers principle of subsidiarity purpose question ratification Raunio reasons representative Riksdag role of national scrutiny reserves sectoral committees sharpened stronger national parliaments Swedish Riksdag 2001 TCE Protocol tion veto voting