A Struggle for Influence: The Role of the European Parliament in EU Foreign Policy

Guri Rosén is a Postdoctoral Fellow at ARENA Centre for European Studies. Her main areas of academic interest include the EU's external trade policy, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the European Parliament. Abstract This article examines the relationship between the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Parliament (EP.) The author ask why would member states, in such a sensitive area as foreign policy, be willing to share their powers with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) over whom they have little control. The essay considers two possible explanations – one pointing to the Parliament’s successful bargaining strategy, the other underlining the importance of the EP’s arguments – while referring to the need for a more democratic foreign policy. November 2016