Six Ways to Better Involve National Parliaments in EU Affairs

How can national parliaments be better embedded in the EU’s multilevel democratic system and further contribute to its legitimacy? Our latest research paper demonstrates that while there is no single model for involving national parliaments across the 27 Member States, there is a rich diversity of successful strategies.

This launching seminar will explore the legal and political drivers of effective national parliamentary oversight of EU legislation and policymaking. Drawing on six emblematic case studies – featuring practices from the Danish, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish Parliaments – the discussion will highlight actionable best practices. We will examine how national legislatures can secure direct access to EU dossiers, scrutinise the European Council, integrate MEPs into domestic activities, and drive cross-border interparliamentary cooperation.

Join us for a focused roundtable discussion as we map the mechanisms that empower national assemblies to actively shape EU decision-making and hold their governments more accountable for it.