National Parliaments and the European Union: Necessity of Assigning a Supranational Role

National Parliaments and the European Union:
Necessity of Assigning a Supranational Role

Asteris Pliakos

Associate Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business, Jean Monnet Professor in EU Law

This Article conducts a theoretically informed critical analysis of the role national par­­lia­ments could assume as regards the process of the European integration. Ana­lyzing the structure of the institutional system of the European Union under the con­­­cept of the principle of democracy, it seeks to conceptualize the necessity of assign­ing a supranational role to the national parliaments as well as to reveal and evaluate the difficulties in undertaking this role. Part I of the Article outlines the prin­ciples dictating the necessity of assigning a supranational role to national par­liaments, com­bining and developing the imperatives of various concepts in order to secure a firm theoretical basis. Part II analyzes, conceptualizes and evaluates the dif­ficulties na­tional parliaments face in undertaking a supranational role as regards the process of the European integration. Using primary data produced by interpar­lia­mentary meet­ings, this Article renders obvious that operating in a complex in­sti­tu­tional system na­tional parliaments have to develop new forms of organization and operation in order to assume properly their new European role. The quicker this role is assumed, the safer and more proper the European parliamentary model will be revived.