Influence beyond formal powers: The parliamentarisation of European Union security policy
| Date | 01 February 2018 |
| Published date | 01 February 2018 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1369148117747105 |
| Author | Kolja Raube,Guri Rosén |
| Subject Matter | Special Issue Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1369148117747105
The British Journal of Politics and
International Relations
2018, Vol. 20(1) 69 –83
© The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/1369148117747105
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Influence beyond
formal powers: The
parliamentarisation of
European Union security
policy
Guri Rosén1 and Kolja Raube2
Abstract
The European Union’s foreign and security policy is commonly described as an intergovernmental
affair. Despite limited formal powers, several studies suggest that the European Parliament has
increased its influence on the Union’s foreign and security policy. This article argues that, to
gauge the significance of parliamentary participation, it is necessary to look beyond the notion of
formal parliamentary rights and to take into account informal influence. The analysis shows how
informal avenues of influence are crucial at certain stages of the decision-making process, and
points to factors that constrain and enable parliamentary impact. Furthermore, it emphasises the
important role that parliaments play in scrutinising security policy, which is a crucial component
of democratic governance. In this particular field where there is little legislation, the establishment
of solid procedures and practices for oversight and control can also be a significant indicator of
parliamentary influence.
Keywords
Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Parliament, European Union, informal influence,
parliamentarisation, security policy
Introduction
The European Union (EU) is one of the few international organisations to have developed
its own foreign and security policy. Some have argued that a reason for moving foreign
policy-making to the EU level is to avoid the constraints of domestic democratic pro-
cesses (Koenig-Archibugi, 2004). Thus, the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy
1ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
2 Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, Leuven International and European Studies, University of
Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Corresponding author:
Guri Rosén, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1143, Blindern, 0318 Oslo,
Norway.
Email: guri.rosen@arena.uio.no
747105BPI0010.1177/1369148117747105The British Journal of Politics and International RelationsRosén and Raube
research-article2018
Special Issue Article
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