"Who's fit for Europe? The Euro-fitness of Belgian regional parliaments and the implications for democratic participation"

Woodward, A. E. (2003) "Who's fit for Europe? The Euro-fitness of Belgian regional parliaments and the implications for democratic participation". In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2003 (8th), March 27-29, 2003, pages 23, Nashville, TN.

Abstract

The particular focus here is on the potential for the most obvious interface between the citizen and sub-national government the democratically elected bodies, such as regional parliaments. To what extent can they provide a conduit for citizen interest and eventually also an identity of participation in the wider European Union from the lowest most direct level? To what extent are regional parliaments engaging in European debate and communicating this to their citizens? This paper focuses on five regional parliaments in Belgium and their fitness for Europe. Looking at the Belgian case it would seem that competencies and size are the most predictive for European fitness. However, in a larger international comparison, this may not actually be the case: vision and mission of members of parliament can be quite important in the way regional parliaments fill a European role and engage their citizens-e.g., Scotland or Catalonia. Size and constitutional footing are only part of the explanation for the development or lack of development of a European profile.