Personnel Turnover and Legislative Efficiency in the EU

Abstract

This chapter examines whether turnover among European commissioners, ministers in the Council of the EU, and members of the European Parliament affects throughput legitimacy in the EU. Theoretically, we expect turnover in all three institutions to slow down decision making. EU institutions present new entrants with steep learning curves. We expect this reality to increase systemic uncertainty and delay the legislative process. Empirically, we find that the effect of turnover varies by institution: while increasing quantities of turnover in the Commission and the Council are associated with decision-making delays, similar phenomena in the EP are associated with more efficient decision making. Turnover in the Commission and the Council can undercut throughput legitimacy; there is no evidence for such an effect in the Parliament.