National parliaments in the European Union: Moving towards more ‘cooperative’ institutions?

Abstract

This article argues that the effective participation in systems of multilevel governance such as the European Union (EU) requires national parliaments to become more ‘cooperative’ institutions. In fact, legislatures are increasingly dependent on obtaining information from third parties such as other national parliaments and EU institutions for effectively scrutinizing EU politics. The Lisbon Treaty provisions also encourage this increasing interaction with external actors. Yet, this article shows that effective participation in EU affairs also requires more regular and more intensive cooperation with domestic actors such as the government or upper chambers. Finally, the need for more cooperation also applies to the internal parliamentary setting and covers the interaction between government and opposition parties, between sectoral committees, and between the parliamentary administration and MPs. Drawing on specific instances of national parliamentary involvement in EU affairs throughout the entire policy cycle, the article will show that adopting these cooperative strategies renders national parliamentary participation in EU politics more effective. Yet, the requirement to act in a more cooperative way risks at the same time to undermine a further politicization of the EU among more substantial political issues.