In the spotlight, or behind the scenes? The European Parliament as an actor in Article 50 withdrawal negotiations

Abstract

The article researches the performance of the European Parliament (EP) in the Article 50 withdrawal negotiations. Drawing upon insights from the actorness concept, the inquiry assesses the EP’s performance on the basis of Kaunert’s, Léonard’s and MacKenzie’s conceptualisation of actorness, i.e. in terms of the six variables of capacity, legitimacy, initiative, autonomy, cohesion and recognition. The paper finds that, within the Article 50 negotiations, the EP established itself as a distinct, ambitious actor in its own right, with its actorness being a complex reality that manifested in a number of ways. Serving as the ultimate veto power, the ability to withhold consent to the final deal lent the EP a strategic advantage and represented the principal source of parliamentary influence in this area. With Brexit high on the assembly’s agenda, the EP successfully claimed its voice in withdrawal negotiations beyond the simple power of consent and its soft power in the subject area increased precipitously throughout the process. The finding also points to a strong pattern of continuity in the EP’s acting on Brexit before and after May 2019 elections.