Ideas, time and institutions: attribution of powers to the European Parliament.

Authors

  • ANTONIO BARROSO VILLAESCUSA

Keywords:

European Union, European Parliament, Treaty Reform, Historical Institutionalism, Democratic Legitimacy.

Abstract

Why have Member States decided to empower the European Parliament in each reform of the Founding Treaties? Drawing on existing literature, this paper aims at providing elements which could explain the gradual increase of the institution’s powers. In order to do so, the last four modifications of the Treaties are analysed. Two types of explicative hypotheses are proposed: a) the increase of the chamber’s competencies is generated by the desire of national elites to legitimise the EU political process; and b) the decisions adopted in each IGC constraint the available options in the future and determine the scope of change in each round of institutional reform.

Published

2008-10-15

Issue

Section

ARTICLES