Influencing and Shaping Policy

Abstract

This chapter illustrates how the EP has influenced and shaped EU policy, gaining in credibility and winning recognition of its role as an equal partner of the Council. The path from limited budgetary powers to full codecision with the Lisbon Treaty has been marked by the development of formal competences and informal mechanisms, which have together led to influence and shape decisions, with direct consequences on the lives of EU citizens. This chapter leads to two conclusions: first, there is not a strict correlation between competences and influence and second, the Parliament has developed a culture of compromise, respecting and responding to different positions, which offers something beyond the compromises possible in the Council. As a result, the EP is now at the centre of the Union’s legislative life.

Appendix

Contributions of Members of the European Parliament Relevant to This Chapter

• Audy Jean-Pierre (2005–2014): [30:45–34:00]

• Baeva Mariela (2004–2009): [Questionnaire]

• Balfe Richard (1979–2004): [44:00–49:35]

• Baron Crespo Enrique (1989–1992): [50:00–52:00]

• Bertens Jan-Willem (94–99): [40:00–01:00:00]

• Boege Reimer (1989–2019): [Questionnaire] [19:00–32:00]

• Bowis John (1999–2009): [18:15–20:15]; [23:55–54:15]

• Bowles Sharon (2005–2014): [30:55–01:01:35]; [01:27:10–01:40:00]

• Brinkhorst Laurens Jan (1994–1999): [05:00–09:00]

• Brok Elmar (1980–2019): [6:15–11:05]; [12:00–24:35]

• Busquin Philippe (2004–2009): [18:00–30:00]

• Cervetti Gianni (1984–1989): [22:30–23:30]

• Chichester Giles (1994–2014): [03:50–21:00]

• Collins Ken (1979–1999): [13:00–17:00]; [34:00–40:00]

• Corbett Richard (1996–2009; 2014–2019): [15:00–40:15]; [57:45–01:02:00]

• Costa Silvia (2009–2019): [8:50–11:35]

• Cox Pat (1989–2004): [01:26:50–01:36:30]; [01:41:00–01:50:20]; [02:10:30–02:18:15]

• Cushnahan John (1989–2004): [01:33:00–01:43:00]

• Daiber Birgit (1989–1994): [05:00–15:00]

• Daul Joseph (1999–2014): [19:00–22:00]

• Davies Chris (1999–2014): [11:00–13:00]; [17:00–32:00]

• Dell’Alba Gianfranco (1994–2004): [07:50–09:55]

• Desama Claude (1988–2001): [09:35–16:25]; [27:40–33:30]; [35:30–38:55]; [42:50–46:05]

• Duff Andrew (1999–2014): [09:40–34:00]

• Dührkop-Dührkop Barbara (1987–2009): [06:00–08:00]

• Dury Raymonde (1984–1999): [12:25–18:20]

• Fayot Ben (1989–1999): [14:00–26:00]

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

• Gauzès Jean-Paul (2004–2014): [04:25–13:00]; [15:00–26:30]; [52:00–54:30]

• Goedmakers Annemarie (1989–1994): [Questionnaire]

• Görlach Willi (1989–2004): [09:00–23:00]; [30:00–33:00]

• Green Pauline (1989–1999): [34:00–42:00]

• Guy-Quint Catherine (1999–2009): [15:50–23:00]

• Halligan Brendan (1983–1984): [21:40–29:20]; [47:25–54:15]

• Harbour Malcom (1999–2014): [19:00–52:00]

• Hennicot-Schoepges Erna (2004–2009): [07:10–18:15]

• Herzcog Edit (2004–2014): [08:00–10:00]; [13:00–16:00]

• Hughes Stephen (1984–2014): [00:00–4:00]; [16:00–27:00]

• Jarzembowski Georg (1991–2009): [06:40–12:20]

• Jöns Karin (1994–2009): [22:00–59:45]

• Kallenbach Gisela (2004–2009): [25:15–28:05]

• Lamassoure Alain (1989–1993; 1999–2019): [25:15–48:15]

• Langenhagen Brigitte (1990–2004): [07:20–17:00]; [37:45–41:15]

• Manzella Andrea (1994–1999): [22:30–28:00]

• Méndez de Vigo Iñigo (1992–2011): [09:00–26:00]

• Mulder Jan (1994–2014): [02:50–06:15]; [07:10–08:10]

• Napoletano Pasqualina (1989–2004): [04:00–18:00]; [22:00–27:00]

• Newton-Dunn Bill (1979–1994; 1999–2014): [07:15–12:45]; [30:50–32:30]

• Pittella Gianni (1999–2019): [00:40–05:05]; [15:50–18:05]

• Plumb Henry (1979–1999): [22:00–34:00]

• Pöttering Hans-Gert (1979–2009): [16:55–18:05]

• Price Peter (1979–1994): [41:30–48:45]

• Quistorp Eva (1989–1994): [14:00–01:10:00]

• Randzio-Plath Christa (1989–2004): [8:00–11:00]; [18:00–28:00]; [42:00–44:00]

• Rinaldi Niccolo (2009–2013): [04:00–15:35]

• Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado José Maria (1989–2004): [12:20–14:05]; [14:30–19:30]; [55:20–58:00]; [58:20–01:00:00]

• Ryan Eoin (2004–2009): [36:15–46:20]; [50:30–57:00]

• Salisch Heinke (1979–1996): [22:00–32:00]; [41:00–48:00]

• Schmid Gerhard (1979–2004): [11:00–44:00]

• Schulz Martin (1994–2017): [21:00–27:00]

• Teverson Robin (1994–1999): [23:00–32:00]; [52:00–54:00]

• Theato Diemut (1987–2004): Questionnaire

• Titley Gary (1989–1994): [16:00–28:30]

• Tongue Carole (1989–1994): [15:00–31:00]

• Von Der Vring Thomas (1979–1994): [07:00–39:00]

• Wallis Diana (1999–2002): [13:00–18:00]

• Watson Graham (1994–2014): [4:00–17:00 21:30–23:30]

• Wurtz Francis (1979–2009): [03:00–10:20]; [10:45–19:50]

• Wynn Terry (1989–2006): [01:00–03:50]; [07:00–10:00]

Suggestions for Further Research

The arrival of codecision has generated a considerable literature from which we would cite two examples: Rasmussen, A., Burns, C., and Reh, C. (eds.) (2014) Legislative Co-decision in the European Union: Experience Over Twenty Years and Implications, Abingdon: Routledge and Stie, A. (2013) Democratic Decision-Making in the EU: Technocracy in Disguise? Abingdon: Routledge.

There has also been a growing broader interest in the conditions under which the Parliament is able to influence policy by legislative or other means. Recent examples include Ripoll Servant, A. (2018) The European Parliament, London: Palgrave Macmillan and Heritier, A., Meissner, K.L., Moury, C., and Schoeller, G. (2019) European Parliament Ascendant: Parliamentary Strategies of Self-Empowerment in the EU, London: Palgrave Macmillan. The latter looks at the ability of the institution to alter outcomes by taking an initiative and being the first mover, thereby putting other actors at a disadvantage. Within this field the interviews raise a number of questions for further work:

• What is the link between the formal competences of the Parliament and its level of influence over the content of legislation?

• How far has the ability of the Parliament to influence legislation depended on winning support beyond the institutions?

• How important is the development of parity between Council and Parliament in explaining the outcome of negotiations? How far is such a concept psychological rather than legal?

• What will the impact of a more divided post-2019 Parliament be on its ability to influence legislation?