Politische Parteien und Interessengruppen auf der nationalen Ebene und in der EU: umgekehrte demokratische Verhaltnisse?

In: Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen: ZParl, Band 45, Heft 3, S. 669-692

Abstract

Two central questions arise with the first being how national parties and interest groups, which have in common the ambition to influence their national state on behalf of their citizens, operate and change at the EU level. The second question is concerned with the consequences these changes have with regard to their influence capacity at both the European and the national level. Within the frames of 'democracy' and 'influence' and based on new empirical evidence, it is described how national parties and interest groups function at the EU level and how they change due to their Europeanisation. Following those frames, new evaluations of how they function on both political levels are presented. Evidence found strongly suggests that the national parties are the current losers and the national interest groups are the current winners of Europeanisation. Finally, recommendations are offered, how the parties could best start to diminish their influence-lag at the EU level. Adapted from the source document.