The persistent dilemma of supranational representation. Framing the weakness of the European Parliament’s representative function in light of the rise of Euroscepticism

Abstract

ABSTRACT The different crises affecting the EU since 2008 have triggered the politicization of European integration. In this regard, it is of primary importance to understand how the EU representation model works, and what have been the major shortcomings of this function at the supranational level. The article will focus on the role and functioning of the European Parliament (EP), which in this moment in history should arguably be at the centre of the political debate over the EU and its governance. Instead, the EP’s representative function has proven to be rather weak also in this mutating context. Using the theoretical insights of the representative claim theory declined according to the peculiarity of the multilevel governance system, the present article offers a theoretical framework with which to interpret the weaknesses and the dilemma of supranational representation and the role of the EP in this fragile context. Furthermore, the article will suggest that the rise of Euroscepticism can be seen as an unavoidable outcome of the shortcomings of the EU’s representative system.