Are citizens able to change European policies?

26
Are citizens able to change European policies? Chris Aalberts Utrecht University www.chrisaalberts.nl Are citizens able to change European policies? Chris Aalberts

description

Presentation on January 13, 2014 to students of Utrecht University (The Netherlands) about the question whether citizens can influence European policies through the European Parliament. In theory, this is an option, in practice, it is not.

Transcript of Are citizens able to change European policies?

Page 1: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Are citizens able to change European policies?

Chris Aalberts

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Are citizens able to change European policies? Chris Aalberts

Page 2: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Who am I? Lecturer, researcher and writer

Five books on political communicationBlogs on ThePostOnline.nl

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Who am I? • Lecturer, researcher and writer• Five books on political communication• Blogs on ThePostOnline.nl

Page 3: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Short quizQuestion 1

Who is an MEP for the Netherlands?

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Short quiz

Question 1• Who is an MEP for the Netherlands?

Page 4: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Short quizQuestion 2

What did this MEP achieve during the seventh legislature (2009-2014)?

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Short quiz

Question 2• What did this MEP achieve during the seventh legislature

(2009-2014)?

Page 5: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Citizens have negative opinions about the EUMore European policies than ever before

Policies that are not useful (olive oil cans, length of cucumbers)Policies that are too expensive (Greece, agriculture)

Policies that are controversial (Turkey, Romanian immigration)

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Citizens have negative opinions about the EU• More European policies than ever before• Policies that are not useful (olive oil cans, length of

cucumbers)• Policies that are too expensive (Greece, agriculture)• Policies that are controversial (Turkey, Romanian

immigration)

Page 6: Are citizens able to change European policies?

What does the European Union look like? Group of institutions

Horizontal accountabilityVertical accountability is sparse

Lack of transparency

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

What does the European Union look like? • Group of institutions• Horizontal accountability• Vertical accountability is sparse• Lack of transparency

Page 7: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Is the European Union democratic? In theory: yes!

ExplanationThe European Parliament (EP) is elected by citizens

The power of the EP is increasing since 1979Goal of Europhiles to further increase the its power

Citizens control European policy making

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Is the European Union democratic? • In theory: yes!

Explanation• The European Parliament (EP) is elected by

citizens• The power of the EP is increasing since 1979• Goal of Europhiles to further increase the its power• Citizens control European policy making

Page 8: Are citizens able to change European policies?

This was the theoryNow the practice

Are citizens able to change European policies through the EP?

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

This was the theory• Now the practice

Are citizens able to change European policies through the EP?

Page 9: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Everyday understanding of the EPMEPs are elected representatives of the people

What does this mean? Three issues

MEPs should know the preferences of citizensMEPs should do what they promise

MEPs should communicate what they have done

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Everyday understanding of the EP• MEPs are elected representatives of the

people• What does this mean?

Three issues• MEPs should know the preferences of

citizens• MEPs should do what they promise• MEPs should communicate what they have

done

Page 10: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should know the preferences of citizensBut do they?

Election results are not informativeMinority of citizens read these political programsLittle information in the media on these programs

Minority of citizens vote for the EP

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should know the preferences of citizens• But do they?

Election results are not informative• Minority of citizens read these political programs• Little information in the media on these programs• Minority of citizens vote for the EP

Page 11: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should know the preferences of citizensBut do they?

Public opinion research in not informativeQuestions indicate general support for the EU

Questions do not cover issues MEPs need to vote onFew exceptions to this rule

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should know the preferences of citizens• But do they?

Public opinion research in not informative• Questions indicate general support for the EU• Questions do not cover issues MEPs need to vote on• Few exceptions to this rule

Page 12: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should know the preferences of citizensBut do they?

Contacts with citizens are not informativeCitizens sometimes contact MEPs

Individual questions, complaints and suggestionsNo information about representativeness

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should know the preferences of citizens• But do they?

Contacts with citizens are not informative• Citizens sometimes contact MEPs• Individual questions, complaints and suggestions• No information about representativeness

Page 13: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should know the preferences of citizensBut do they?

Lobby groups fill in this gapExtreme amount of lobbyists in Europe

Lobby groups inform MEPs about relevant issuesLarge role for companies

Smaller role for societal organisations

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should know the preferences of citizens• But do they?

Lobby groups fill in this gap• Extreme amount of lobbyists in Europe• Lobby groups inform MEPs about relevant issues• Large role for companies • Smaller role for societal organisations

Page 14: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should do what they promiseBut do they?

MEPs often do not decide themselvesTransnational parties in the EP

Fraction discipline in most partiesPolicy areas are often covered by others

Diversity in these parties is increasingMEPs need to trust their colleagues

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should do what they promise• But do they?

MEPs often do not decide themselves• Transnational parties in the EP • Fraction discipline in most parties• Policy areas are often covered by others • Diversity in these parties is increasing• MEPs need to trust their colleagues

Page 15: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should do what they promiseBut do they?

Compromise is everywhereNational programs are only the input in the process

Compromise within transnational partiesCompromise between transnational partiesCompromise between European institutions

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Everyday understanding of the EPMEPs are elected representatives of the peopleWhat does this mean?

Three issuesMEPs should know the preferences of citizensMEPs should do what they promiseMEPs should communicate what they have done

MEPs should do what they promise• But do they?

Compromise is everywhere• National programs are only the input in the process• Compromise within transnational parties• Compromise between transnational parties• Compromise between European institutions

Page 16: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should do what they promiseBut do they?

MEPs favour more EuropeThe EP is pro-European

The EP wants more powerCritical voices disappear in this process

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should do what they promise• But do they?

MEPs favour more Europe• The EP is pro-European• The EP wants more power• Critical voices disappear in this process

Page 17: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should communicate what they have doneBut do they?

Traditional media do not cover the EPJournalists are interested during Council meetings

Attention for work of the EP is sparseIn the past, even EP-elections were ignored

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should communicate what they have done• But do they?

Traditional media do not cover the EP• Journalists are interested during Council meetings• Attention for work of the EP is sparse• In the past, even EP-elections were ignored

Page 18: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should communicate what they have doneBut do they?

Social media are not an alternativeOnly an information source for interested citizensAudience is small compared to traditional media

PR-information instead of independent journalism

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should communicate what they have done• But do they?

Social media are not an alternative• Only an information source for interested citizens• Audience is small compared to traditional media• PR-information instead of independent journalism

Page 19: Are citizens able to change European policies?

MEPs should communicate what they have doneBut do they?

Explanation is not justificationMEPs are active in all kinds of public meetingsMEPs explain the value of the EU and the EP

MEPs do not justify their actions

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

MEPs should communicate what they have done• But do they?

Explanation is not justification• MEPs are active in all kinds of public meetings• MEPs explain the value of the EU and the EP• MEPs do not justify their actions

Page 20: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Are citizens able to change European policies? Huge gap between theory and practice

The EP has more powers than ever beforeIn theory, the EP represents the people of the EU

In practiceMEPs do not know the preferences of citizens

The work of MEPs is not transparent No communication about what MEPs did

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Are citizens able to change European policies? • Huge gap between theory and practice• The EP has more powers than ever before• In theory, the EP represents the people of the EU

In practice• MEPs do not know the preferences of citizens• The work of MEPs is not transparent • No communication about what MEPs did

Page 21: Are citizens able to change European policies?

What to do?

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

What to do?

Page 22: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Vote for a Europhile partyThis is what most citizens already do

This will not change anything Parties such as CDA, PvdA, D66, VVD, GroenLinks

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Vote for a Europhile party• This is what most citizens already do• This will not change anything • Parties such as CDA, PvdA, D66, VVD, GroenLinks

Page 23: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Vote for a Eurosceptic partyThis has become more popular

But it will not change anything eitherParties such as PVV, SGP or PvdD

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Vote for a Eurosceptic party• This has become more popular• But it will not change anything either• Parties such as PVV, SGP or PvdD

Page 24: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Vote for the party of your national preferenceThis gives a general direction to MEPs

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Vote for the party of your national preference• This gives a general direction to MEPs

Page 25: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Vote for policy proposals from a political programThese will be the input for negotiations

No chance that these proposals will be really executedGives some direction to the work of MEPs

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Vote for policy proposals from a political program• These will be the input for negotiations• No chance that these proposals will be really

executed• Gives some direction to the work of MEPs

Page 26: Are citizens able to change European policies?

Do not votePreferred option of the majority

More discussion about legitimacy of the EU

Utrecht Universitywww.chrisaalberts.nl

Do not vote• Preferred option of the majority• More discussion about legitimacy of the EU