Communicating the Work of the Parliament

Abstract

This chapter highlights the problems that MEPs have faced in communicating their contribution to the activities of the European Parliament and the results of Parliament’s decisions. Targets of communication and the problems encountered have varied, with members enjoying different levels of success. In particular, the chapter considers relations with national and local media as well as contacts with specialized interests in society. As communication is a two-way process, the chapter also looks at how the external world, the general public and interest groups, gave their views to MEPs and how such communication linked to the issues of transparency and the autonomy of individual MEPs.

Appendices

Appendix

Contributions of Members of the European Parliament Relevant to This Chapter

• Ahren Nuala (1994–2004): [01:21:40–01:25:30]

• Audy Jean-Pierre (2005–2014): [34:00–39:25]

• Balfe Richard (1979–2004): [41:00–44:00]

• Böge Reimer [45:20–47:30]

• Bonde Jens-Peter (1979–2008): [08:55–11:55]

• Bowis John (1999–2009): [01:01:40–01:07:00]

• Bowles Sharon (2005–2014): [01:16:30–01:30:30]; [01:42:30–01:55:30]

• Brinkhorst Laurens Jan (1994–1999): [16:05–18:10]

• Busquin Philippe (2004–2009): [30:00–38:00]; [47:35–55:15]

• Cervetti Gianni (1984–1989): [28:20–23:30]

• Collins Ken (1979–1999): [31:00–34:00]

• Colom i Naval Joan (1979–1998): [16:45–18:55]

• Cot Jean-Pierre (1984–1999): [23:30–26:00]

• Cox Pat (1989–2004): [01:50:50–01:56:20]; [02:04:55–02:10:10]

• Cushnahan John (1989–2004): [39:30–48:20]; [55:45–01:05:45]

• Daiber Birgit (1989–1994): [38:30–40:00]

• Daul Joseph (1999–2014): [22:00–26:00]

• Davies Chris (1999–2014): [07:05–09:15]; [32:40–36:40]

• Dell’Alba Gianfranco (1994–2004): [21:30–23:55]

• Desama Claude (1988–2001): [29:45–30:45]

• Dury Raymonde (1984–1999): [19:00–26:30]

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

• Gauzès Jean-Paul (2004–2014): [15:00–22:15]; [52:00–56:55]

• Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado Jose Maria (1989–2004): [47:15–51:15]

• Guy-Quint Catherine (1999–2009) [29:40–43:00]

• Halligan Brendan (1983–1984): [59:00–01:13:00]

• Hennicot-Schoepges Erna (2004–2009): [07:10–22:15]; [29:20–34:40]; [37:20–42:40]

• Herzcog Edit (2004–2014): [22:00–28:00]; [38:45–45:15]; [45:45–47:10]

• Hutton Alasdair (1979–1999): [17:50–22:40]

• Jarzembowski Georg (1991–2009): [23:30–27:40]; [33:25–44:50]

• Jöns Karin (1994–2009): [18:10–21:30]; [1:02:45–1:06:30]

• Kallenbach Gisela (2004–2009): [26:00–29:00]; [31:15–41:25]; [42:10–48:10]

• Méndez de Vigo Iñigo (1992–2011): [26:00–29:00]

• Napoletano Pasqualina (1989–2004): [27:45–32:45]

• Newton-Dunn Bill (1979–1994; 1999–2014): [48:45–01:02:20]

• Quistorp Eva (1989–1994): [31:15–37:30]

• Randzio-Plath Christa (1989–2004): [28:25–33:05]

• Rinaldi Niccolo (2009–2014): [18:40–30:05]; [34:00–35:55]

• Ryan Eoin (2004–2009): [57:10–01:12:05]

• Salisch Heinke (1979–1996): [48:00–51:00]

• Schmid Gerhard (1979–2004): [44:00–49:00]

• Simpson Anthony (1979–1994): [22:15–28:45]

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

• Teverson Robin (1994–1999): [56:00–58:00]

• Tongue Carole (1989–1994): [08:30–14:50]; [26:45–33:20]

• Von Der Vring Thomas (1979–1994): [39:00–43:00]

• Wallis Diana (1999–2012): [18:00–31:00]

• Watson Graham (1994–2014): [30:45–35:30]

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

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

• Wurtz Francis (1979–2009): [32:45–33:45]

• Wynn Terry (1989–2006): [09:30–13:00]

Suggestions for Further Research

The importance for institutions to communicate successfully and to promote a good image of their work has been increasingly recognised in the academic literature. One example that looks at the early development of the EU is Krumrey, J. (2018) The Symbolic Politics of European Integration: Staging Europe, London: Palgrave Macmillan, another that looks at more recent developments is Caiani, M. and Guerra, S. (2017) Democracy and the Media: Communicating Europe, Contesting Europe, London: Palgrave Macmillan. There has also been work on the specific problems faced by the Parliament, such as Lord, C. (2018) ‘The European Parliament: A Working Parliament Without a Public?’ Journal of Legislative Studies 24/1: 34–50 and Dialer, D. and Richter, M. (2019) Lobbying in the European Union: Strategies, Dynamics and Trends, Cham: Springer International.

The interviews raise several questions that offer a way of extending this debate:

• To what extent does the ability of MEPs to communicate with their citizens depend on the nature of the electoral system that applies in their country? How important, for example, was the change in the UK in 1999 from first past the post to a proportional system?

• What balance can be struck between the freedom of any MEP to act and the transparency of her or his activity to the general public?

• How far is lobbying an essential component of the Parliament’s work, how far an opportunity for stronger groups to alter the shape of legislation in their favour?

• What difference has the development of social media made to the ability of MEPs to communicate with their electorates?