European Parliament’s Political Groups in Turbulent Times (Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics)

This open access book provides the first ever authoritative collection of scholarly insights, based upon original research, into the political groups of the EP tackling the fundamental changes since the Lisbon Treaty and the upsurge of radical right parties. It analyses political groups and their importance from multiple perspectives critically assessing their role and significance in EU politics. Each chapter is authored by leading scholars in the field, working on key topics in relation to political groups: political group formation and function, their role in parliamentary and EU policy-making, the way that Eurosceptic MEPs influence (or not) the Parliament, and the nature and form of interactions with external actors. In doing so, each chapter opens hitherto unexplored ‘black boxes’ in the political work of the EP, such as the internal practices of, and power relations within the political groups, and informal arenas of intra-group decision-making. Preface Praise for European Parliament’s Political Groups in Turbulent Times Contents Notes on Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction: European Parliament’s Political Groups in Turbulent Times Introduction The Core Features of Political Groups in the EP New Inroads into the Study of Political Groups Evaluating Political Groups: Focus on Democratic Practices The Chapters of the Book References 2 Negotiating Power and Democracy in Political Group Formation in the European Parliament Introduction Background of Political Group Formation Theoretical and Methodological Framework Four Layers of Political Group Formation Layer 1: Formal Political Group Formation After EP Elections Layer 2: Internal Political Group Formation Through Core Functions Layer 3: Political Group Formation and Consolidation Through Policies Layer 4: Changes to Political Group Composition During the Legislative Term Conclusion Notes References 3 The Political Groups as Organisations: The Institutionalisation of Transnational Party Politics Introduction Explaining the Institutionalisation of the Political Groups Research Design The Organisational Development of the Political Groups The Elected Parliament: From Talking-Shop to Co-Legislator The Enlarged Parliament: Legislative Empowerment and More Diversity The Normal Parliament: A Legislative Powerhouse How the Groups Organise: Coordination Rather Than Sanctions Conclusions Notes References 4 Democratic Practices and Political Dynamics of Intra-Group Policy Formation in the European Parliament Introduction The Hidden Politics of Policy Formation in the European Parliament Formal and Informal Democratic Practices in Policy-Making Material and Method Unified Group Line and Modes of Decision-Making The Importance of a Unified Group Line Modes of Decision-Making Structures and Arenas of Group Line Formation Power Hierarchies and Actors Shaping the Group Line Conclusions Note References 5 Eurosceptic Contestation and Legislative Behaviour in the European Parliament Introduction Theorising Eurosceptic Contestation in the EP How to Analyse Eurosceptic Contestation in the EP Eurosceptic Polarisation and Cohesion Across Policy Fields Eurosceptic Behaviour in the Legislative Process Anti-discrimination and Minority Rights: Alignment of Euroscepticism and Conservativism Foreign Policy: Selective Alignment Economic Regulation: Undermining Eurosceptic Cohesion Conclusion Annex Notes References 6 When Words Do Not Follow Deeds: An Analysis of Party Competition Between Centre-Right and Eurosceptic Radical-Right Parties in the European Parliament Introduction Inclusion and Exclusion of Radical Right Challengers: Understanding the Strategies of the Centre-Right Strategies of the EPP in the European Parliament Data and Methods Strategies in the Asylum Reform Package Qualifications Regulation (2016/0223/COD) Eurodac Regulation (2016/0132/COD) Conclusion Notes References 7 How Do Eurosceptics Wage Opposition in the European Parliament? Patterns of Behaviour in the 8th Legislature Introduction Opposition to Europe and Parliamentary Behaviour Objectives and Hypotheses Data and Method Analysing the Difference Between Opposition Actors Within the EP Descriptive Results Regression Results Conclusion Notes References 8 Shaping the EU’s Future? Europarties, European Parliament’s Political Groups and the Conference on the Future of Europe Introduction Agenda-Setting in EU Politics EU Constitutional Reforms, Party Politics and Accumulated Experience Empirical Analysis: Business as Usual for the EP Political Groups The Road to the Conference Coalitions and Leadership in the Parliament Concluding Discussion Notes References 9 (Disap)pointing in the Mirror: The European Parliament’s Obligations to Protect EU Basic Values in Member States and at EU Level Introduction Context: EU Protection of EU Values at Member State Level and the EP The EP and Regulating Compliance with Basic EU Values at EU Level: Instruments The EP and Regulating Compliance with EU Values at EU Level: Practice Some Proposals to Strengthen Protection of EU Values by Political Groups Conclusion Notes References 10 Parliamentary Politics and Polarisation Around Gender: Tackling Inequalities in Political Groups in the European Parliament Introduction Researching Gendered Inequalities and Gender Equality Practices in Parliaments Research Data and Methods Gender Equality as a Fundamental Principle: Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL Practices for Promoting Gender Equality Gender Equality as a Flexible Norm: S&D and ALDE/Renew Practices for Promoting Gender Equality Contradictory Gender Equality: The EPP, EFDD and ECR Practices for Promoting Gender Equality Irrelevant and Dangerous Gender: ENF/ID Conclusions Notes References 11 ‘Ethno, Ethno, What?’: Using Ethnography to Explore the European Parliament’s Political Groups in Turbulent Times Introduction Parliamentary Ethnography and the Study of Political Groups Shadowing, Meeting Ethnography and Hanging Out Shadowing MEPs Meeting Ethnography of Group Meetings and Working Groups Hanging Out Conclusion References 12 Turbulent Times for the European Parliament’s Political Groups? Lessons on Continuity and Change Introduction Euroscepticism, Radical Right Populism and Political Groups Political Groups as Democratic Actors Formal and Informal Institutions of the Political Groups Political Groups, European Integration and New Research Avenues References Index