Differentiation in the European Parliament

Abstract

This chapter explores how Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approach differentiation. Differentiation in the European Union (EU) has often been described and discussed as a matter for member states to accommodate their various concerns whilst being able to progress the integration process. At the same time, differentiation has broad implications not only for member states, but also for EU’s millions of citizens. Integrating measures of different speeds and an array of complex formats, as well as possibly dis-integrating processes, triggers questions about cohesion and governance, but also about social support and the very existence of the EU. Being directly elected by the EU citizenry, it is the role of MEPs to voice the viewpoints of their constituents. Therefore, this chapter will address how MEPs experience and evaluate processes of differentiation. Although the European Parliament has proclaimed that the debate about differentiation should not be about pro-differentiation versus anti-differentiation, this chapter demonstrates that MEPs have opposing visions of the future of the EU, and they evaluate proposals for differentiation differently. The analysis shows how MEPs view the issue of differentiation as closely connected to the question of democracy in the EU. However, it is identified as both a remedy to lack of democracy, and as a threat to it.