Why are Spanish regional parliaments lost in translation within the framework of the Early Warning System?
Thomas, Anja
Why are Spanish regional parliaments lost in translation within the framework of the Early Warning System? - 2025.
61
The purpose of this research is to identify the main reasons for two odd results concerning the performance of the Spanish regional parliaments within the framework of the Early Warning System (hereinafter, EWS). First, the smaller number of subsidiarity complaints (or so-called reasoned opinions) authored by these subnational assemblies since 2010, as compared to some Austrian and German regional parliaments. Second, the greater submission of other kinds of opinions on EU draft legislative proposals under this subsidiarity mechanism by seven Autonomous Communities (i.e., Extremadura, Castile and León, Aragon, Catalonia, the Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, and the Basque Country), and as a result, in the country as a whole. For the independent variables, novel data have been obtained through interviews with a selection of senior officials, and questionnaires completed by the staff members in charge, among others, of EU affairs in each parliamentary administration. The findings of the study support that most Spanish subnational parliaments are disengaged from the EWS first and foremost due to the lack of any obligation for Las Cortes Generales to consider their opinions. Besides, administrative capacity has an impact on their submissions under the EU subsidiarity mechanism. Having an in-house expert on EU issues and/or benefiting from an ongoing cooperation with the administrative dimension of the regional executive increase their likelihood of delivering opinions on EU legislative proposals. Ultimately, this research reveals how Spanish regional assemblies are not embedded in the EU as a compound democracy, due to some flawed institutional arrangements of the Estado de las Autonomías.
Why are Spanish regional parliaments lost in translation within the framework of the Early Warning System? - 2025.
61
The purpose of this research is to identify the main reasons for two odd results concerning the performance of the Spanish regional parliaments within the framework of the Early Warning System (hereinafter, EWS). First, the smaller number of subsidiarity complaints (or so-called reasoned opinions) authored by these subnational assemblies since 2010, as compared to some Austrian and German regional parliaments. Second, the greater submission of other kinds of opinions on EU draft legislative proposals under this subsidiarity mechanism by seven Autonomous Communities (i.e., Extremadura, Castile and León, Aragon, Catalonia, the Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, and the Basque Country), and as a result, in the country as a whole. For the independent variables, novel data have been obtained through interviews with a selection of senior officials, and questionnaires completed by the staff members in charge, among others, of EU affairs in each parliamentary administration. The findings of the study support that most Spanish subnational parliaments are disengaged from the EWS first and foremost due to the lack of any obligation for Las Cortes Generales to consider their opinions. Besides, administrative capacity has an impact on their submissions under the EU subsidiarity mechanism. Having an in-house expert on EU issues and/or benefiting from an ongoing cooperation with the administrative dimension of the regional executive increase their likelihood of delivering opinions on EU legislative proposals. Ultimately, this research reveals how Spanish regional assemblies are not embedded in the EU as a compound democracy, due to some flawed institutional arrangements of the Estado de las Autonomías.
Réseaux sociaux