Living Inside the Political Groups

Abstract

This chapter highlights the views of former MEPs on the growing influence of the political groups not only on the main decisions of the Parliament but also on the daily parliamentary life of its Members. It notes the development beyond the Parliament’s official bodies, where every group is duly represented, of unofficial structures, notably the “grand coalition”. It presents the views of MEPs on how this coalition worked in the legislative arena and influenced nominations. It looks at the relationship between the groups and the committees of the Parliament including through the work of group coordinators and concludes by considering the internal workings of the groups, notably the national delegations.

Appendix

Contributions of Members of the European Parliament Relevant to This Chapter

• Ahren Nuala (1994–2004): [30:00–35:00]; [42:50–46:40]

• Audy Jean-Pierre (2005–2014): [00:50–14:50]

• Balfe Richard (1979–2004): [35:30–40:15] + questionnaire

• Boege Reimer (1989–2019): [3:30–5:40]

• Bowis John (1999–2009): [13:25–23:55]

• Brinkhorst Laurens Jan (1994–1999): questionnaire

• Busquin Philippe (2004–2009): [15:00–18:00]; [35:20–47:10]

• Cervetti Giovanni (1984–1989): [8:20–16-15]; [17:30–22:09]

• Colom Joan (1979–1998): [19:30–20:40]

• Corbett Richard (1996–2019): [15:00–31:30]; [43:15–46:45]

• Cot Jean-Pierre (1984–1999): [11:10–16:40]

• Cox Pat (1989–2004): [30:25–45:10]; [45:20–01:16:40]

• Daiber Birgit (1989–1994): [25:20–33:00]

• Daul Joseph (1999–2014): [04:00–19:00]

• Davies Chris (1999–2014): [06:05–06:50]; [22:00–32:00]

• Dell’Alba Gianfranco (1994–2004): [04:50–17:35]

• Desama Claude (1988–2001): [07:25–08:40]; [19:50–25:45]

• De Vries Gijs (1984–1999): [13:30–26:00]

• Dührkop Dührkop Barbara (1987–2009): [08:20–09:15]

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

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

• Frassoni Monica (1999–2009): [20:00–31:40]

• Gauzès Jean-Paul (2004–2014): [28:00–31:00]

• Goedmakers Annemarie (1989–1994) (Questionnaire)

• Görlach Willi (1989–2004): [00:00–09:00]

• Green Pauline (1989–1999): [12:00–22:00]

• Halligan Brendan (1983–1984): [12:30–17:00]; [36:05–37:00]

• Hennicot-Schoepges Erna (2004–2009): [22:45–24:15]

• Herczog Edit (2004–2014): [17:45–19:00]

• Hughes Stephen (1984–2014): [16:05–20:15]

• Iversen John (1996–1999): [16:50–32:45]

• Kallenbach Gisela (2004–2009): [53:30–58:00]

• Langenhagen Brigitte (1990–2004): [05:15–06:20]

• Méndez De Vigo Iñigo (1992–2011): [04:00–09:00]

• Muscardini Cristiana (1989–2014): [31:05–32:45]

• Newton-Dunn Bill (1979–1994; 1999–2014): [37:15–48:15]

• Pittella Gianni (1999–2018): [07:30–14:00]

• Plumb Henry (1979–1999): [08:00–15:00]

• Puerta Alonso (1987–2004): [Part2 1:00–13:00];

• Pöttering Hans-Gert (1979–2009): [15:00–55:00]

• Read Mel (1989–1999): [83:00–86:00];

• Ryan Eoin (2004–2009): [07:05–12:25]

• Schmid Gerhard (1979–2004): [21:00–31:00];

• Teverson Robin (1994–1999): [41:00–48:00]

• Titley Gary (1989–2009): [16:00–28:30]

• Watson Graham (1994–2014): [4:00–11:00]

• Wurtz Francis (1979–2009): [20:10–28:00]

• Wynn Terry (1989–2006): [19:00–33:00]

Suggestions for Further Research

Two books launched work on the political groups in the Parliament: Hix, S. and Lord, C. (1997) Political Parties in the European Union, New York: St. Martin’s Press and Kreppel, A. (2002) The European Parliament and Supranational Party System: A Study in Institutional Development, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. More recent works include Cicchi, L. (2016) Is Euro-Voting Truly Supranational?: National Affiliation and Political Group Membership in the European Parliament, Pisa: Pisa University Press

The interviews conducted point to some specific areas for further work:

• How far will the politics of the Parliament after 2019 resemble the more fluid politics of the 1980s rather than the period after 1990, which was dominated by the “grand coalition”?

• What determines the relative weight of committee chairs, rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and group coordinators in the legislative process?

• How far does the existence of the groups serve to conceal the importance of national interests expressed through national delegations and their heads?

• How important was the creation of the Conference of Presidents (to replace the Enlarged Bureau) in establishing a new way of running the Parliament?