Six Battles That Shaped Europe’s Parliament

By Julian Priestley
Ebook*: £15.00

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Description

This classic text, describing six historic battles in the making of the European Parliament, was first published in 2008. It is no longer in print but we have now reissued it as an ebook (PDF).

The text of the ebook is the same as the original printed version other than an update to the About the Author section.

Sir Julian Priestley was Secretary-General of the European Parliament from 1997-2007, having been an official there since the 1970s. In this illuminating book he looks at a series of key battles – all of which he witnessed at first hand – that contributed to the development of the Parliament’s powers and influence.

The battles selected show Parliament engaged in a struggle not only to expand its formal institutional powers, in areas such as the budget, legislation and appointment, but also to command respect and recognition from the other European institutions. The author vividly demonstrates the complex interplay between politics and personalities in the Parliament and how internal political divisions at times proved a critical factor in determining outcomes.

“One could hardly imagine a better commentator on the evolution of the European Parliament than Julian Priestley… formidable analytical skills.”

Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg

“Alive with different personalities, deftly sketched… an entertaining, intelligent read.”

European Voice

Table of Contents

  • Preface, by Jean-Claude Juncker
  • About the author
  • Introduction
  • Acknowledgements
  • Dramatis Personae
  • A few words of explanation…
  1. Tugging the purse strings: the battle for the budget
  2. Being there: the battle to get in the room
  3. Legitimising Brussels: the battle to appoint
  4. Bringing the cow off the ice: the battle for a Statute for MEPs and internal reform
  5. Taking over: the battle for legislative power
  6. Who killed the European Commission? – the battle for accountability
  • Some concluding remarks: the battles of the future
  • Index

About Julian Priestley

Sir Julian Priestley was Secretary General of the European Parliament from 1997 until 2007. He died in April 2017.

Product Details

Publication Date
12 Jun 2008
Format
Ebook
Page Count
256
ISBN
9780955620232