Poker eller patiens? Multilaterala förhandlingar i Europaparlamentet; en explorativ studie av förhandlingskulturen i Europas folkvalda parlament.
Two-level gameEuropean ParliamentConsensusNegotiation cultureCommitteesRapporteursPolitical and administrative sciencesStatsvetenskapFörvaltningskunskapLaw and Political Science
Since the Maastricht Treaty the European Parliament has gained competence in the decision-making process and the Parliament is today one of two decision-making institution, next to the Ministers of Council. In this study the main focus has been to shed light over the negotiation culture within the European Parliament, which up till now has been a neglected research area. This is of great significance because the internal negotiations in the European Parliament decide the external negotiation position with the other institutions.After face-to-face interviews with MEP:s and assistants I have been able to identify certain characteristics to create an understanding of the negotiation culture in Europe's elected Parliament. The negotiations are oriented towards a problems-solving approach and the prevailing apprehension is consensus-based negotiations instead of the existence of political blocks. The committees are stronger than the European party groups, which further encourage negotiation. In addition, the negotiations seem to be focused on issues rather than on with whom to negotiate. The keyword, throughout the study, is consensus and the negotiation culture is characterized by the ambition to create consensus in all the different aspects of the negotiations. Other focal points are leadership, carried out by the rapporteur and the cultural aspects of the negotiations.