Choosing the Parliament

Abstract

This chapter looks first at the different routes by which the interviewees ended up in the European Parliament, whether they had been involved in politics or not, their prior knowledge of the EU, their professional background and experience, and the extent to which they were motivated to stand for election. It also looks at their personal stories and the extent of their European convictions. The second half of the chapter looks at their first impressions of a multinational and multilingual parliament, the ways they adapted to an often unfamiliar culture of compromise and consensus, their relative autonomy compared to national parliamentarians, and some of the problems that they faced.

Appendix

Contributions of Members of the European Parliament Relevant to This Chapter

• Adam Gordon (1979–2004): [03:20–09:00]

• Ahern Nuala (1994–2004): [00:30–10:40]

• Boege Reimer (1989–2019): [0:00–3:00]

• Bonde Jens-Peter (1979–2008): [00:20–01:35]

• Bertens Jan-Willem (1994–1999): [01:30–20:00]

• Bowis John (1999–2009): [00:45–06:00]

• Bowles Sharon (2005–2014): [00:40–04:30]

• Brinkhorst Laurens Jan (1994–1999): [00:25–02:15]

• Casini Carlo (1984–1999; 2006–2014): [00:30–01:30]

• Cervetti Gianni (1984–1989): [0:00–3:30]

• Chichester Giles (1994–2014): [01:00–03:50]

• Collins Ken (1979–1999): [01:30–13:00]

• Cot Jean-Pierre (1984–1999): [00:20–02:05]

• Corbett Richard (1996–2019): [01:50–08:25]

• Cox Pat (1989–2004): [00:50–05:30]

• Curry David (1979–1989): [01:00–07:00]

• Cushnahan John (1989–2004): [00:40–17:20]

• Daiber Birgit (1989–1994): [00:25–07:30]

• Daul Joseph (1999–2014): [00:20–02:40]

• Davies Chris (1999–2014): [00:30–06:50]

• Dell’Alba Gianfranco (1994–2004): [00:20–04:45]

• Desama Claude (1988–2001):[04:00–07:25]

• De Vris Gijs (1984–1999): [00:50–13:00]

• Duff Andrew (1989–2014): [02:00–09:40]

• Dührkop Dührkop Barbara (1987–2009): [00:15–01:00]

• Dury Raymonde (1984–1999): [02:30–03:30]

• Ford Glyn (1984–2009): [Questionnaire]

• Gauzès Jean-Paul (2004–2014): [01:30–02:40]

• Görlach Willi (1989–2004): [Questionnaire]

• Green Pauline (1989–1999): [00:30–04:30]

• Guy-Quint Catherine (1999–2009): [1:00–4:20]

• Halligan Brendan (1983–1984): [Part 2 00:00–06:10]

• Harbour Malcolm (1999–2014): [01:00–07:30]

• Hennicot-Schoepges Erna (2004–2009): [00:40–07:00]

• Herczog Edit (2004–2014): [00:50–06:00]

• Hutton Alasdair (1979–1989): [00:35–04:30]

• Jarzembowski Georg (1991–2009): [01:05–01:25]

• Jöns Karin (1994–2009): [00:30–07:20]

• Kallenbach Gisela (2004–2009): [01:00–11:40] + questionnaire

• Lamassoure Alain (1989–1993; 1999–2019): [01:00–03:35]

• Langenhagen Brigitte (1990–2004): [00:40–04:50]

• Manzella Andrea (1994–1999): [00:50–04:00]

• Méndez De Vigo Iñigo (1992–2011): [00:25–03:30]

• Mulder Jan (1994–2014): [00:35–02:15]

• Newton-Dunn Bill (1979–1994; 1999–2014): [01:30–02:55]

• Patterson Ben (1979–1994): [02:00–15:40]

• Plumb Henry (1979–1999): [00:40–07:00]

• Pollack Anita (1989–1999): [00:40–14:00]

• Price Peter (1979–1994): [01:00–08:40]

• Puerta Alonso (1987–2004): [Part 1 0:00-13:24]

• Quistorp Eva (1989–1994): [00:50–15:20]

• Read Mel (1989–2004): [01:00–14:00]

• Rinaldi Niccolo (2009–2013): [00:15–03:50]

• Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado, Jose Maria (1989–2004): [00:40–03:30]

• Ryan Eoin (2004–2009): [00:20–06:55]

• Salisch Heinke (1979–1996): [01:00–08:00]

• Schmid Gerhard (1979–2004): [00:15–11:00]

• Simpson Anthony (1979–1994): [00:25–04:35]

• Takkula Hannu (2004–2014; 2015–2018): [Questionnaire]

• Telkaemper Wilfried (1987–1999): [Questionnaire]

• Teverson Robin (1994–1999): [00:35–09:00]

• Titley Gary (1989–2009): [01:00–11:00]

• Von Der Vring Thomas (1979–1994): [00:40–07:30]

• Wallis Diana (1999–2012): [01:00–13:00]

• Watson Graham (1994–2014): [0:00–4:00]

• Weber Beate (1979–1990): [Questionnaire]

• Wijsenbeek Florus (1984–1999): [Questionnaire]

Suggestions for Further Research

The reasons why politicians decide to stand for the European Parliament has started to attract the attention of researchers. Recent examples include Daniel, W.T. (2015) Career Behaviour and the European Parliament: All Roads Lead Through Brussels? Oxford: Oxford University Press and Frech, E. (2018) Re-Selecting Members of the European Parliament: Candidate Selection, Party Goals, and Re-Election Probabilities, Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

We would offer the following suggestions for further work in the light of the interviews that we undertook:

• Is the grip of national parties on the selection process for candidates for the European Parliament increasing? Or does it have enough importance for them to try to exercise such a grip?

• How far do different electoral systems affect recruitment to the Parliament (respective roles of party members or party leadership, open or closed electoral lists, etc.)?

• Is the relative importance of the different motivations for seeking election to the European Parliament changing?

• How far is the Parliament with its new powers drawing ever more specialists familiar with the workings of the EU? Is the category we suggest of the “accidental MEP” ceasing to be a relevant category in the institution?

• How important is the idealism found in many of the MEPs elected back in the early days in present day circumstances? How far has the excitement of the early days been worn down by the pressures of specialisation?