Demanding Democracy in the EU: The Commission, the Parliament, and Noncompliance

• In Event: Poster Session: Middle East and North African Politics & Posters on Europe
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Posters on Europe

Abstract

Democratic backsliding in Eastern Europe has proven to be more than an ephemeral phenomenon. While recent research argues that the EU Commission’s (lack of) enforcement is the consequence of strategic decision making, less attention has been paid to other political actors who might demand Commission response. In this paper, I analyze the link between the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the infringement procedure. Can demand from Parliament help bridge the gap in enforcing democracy in the EU?

Although the Commission alone can start an infringement, the European Parliament can signal their preferences using written questions and non-binding resolutions, thereby demanding Commission action. Using process tracing, I consider whether these governance tools have led to better democratic enforcement in Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic between 2015-2020. Furthermore, I evaluate whether written questions or non-binding resolutions about democratic backsliding spur more action. Non-binding resolutions are more public than written questions, often covered in the media, and may therefore be more effectual. However, the cumulative effect of many written questions may have more an effect than a one-time resolution. Written questions can also tell us about who is demanding enforcement. Are certain member states or political parties more likely to ask about backsliding? As democratic backsliding continues to threaten the legitimacy of the EU, understanding the various forces that bolster democracy may prevent further autocratization, and perhaps even reverse it.

Author

• Kari Waters, Cornell University