A New Political Game in Europe? Government Strategies and Votes in the EU

• In Event: The European Parliament

Abstract

Decision-making has changed drastically in the European Union (EU) over the past decade, and so have the strategies and behaviour of the governments when negotiating policies in Brussels. Looking forward, Brexit and changing political dynamics in domestic politics in a number of key member states are set to pose new dilemmas and change the power dynamics in EU politics once again. Based on unique and rich data sources covering all legislative decisions adopted by the governments, this paper presents a detailed analysis of how politics have evolved in the EU’s main legislative body, the Council of the European Union (the Council) since the enlargement to Central- and Eastern Europe in 2004. It sheds light on individual governments’ voting behaviour, how coalitions are formed and what this means for policy outcomes. It also presents evidence of how and when national parliaments and domestic politics influence governments’ behaviour in the Council setting, and discusses how these findings should be considered in an era of populism.

Author

• Sara Hagemann, London School of Economics