Trilogues: Internal and External Accountability in the European Parliament and the Consequences for Representation

Abstract

In the EU, informal trilogue meetings have become the standard way of reaching legislative agreement. The overwhelming majority of dossiers are concluded after the first reading to ensure speedier processes. Whereas trilogues are defended as a tool to reach inter-institutional agreement, the legitimacy of this practice has been widely questioned due to its opaque nature excluding citizens from accessing relevant documents and debates. In response, the European Parliament has instituted mandating and reporting mechanisms, but criticism continues. Does the improvement of parliamentary accountability come at the expense of public accountability? The panel welcomes empirically anchored papers that seek to further nuance our knowledge on how trilogues actually unfold in practice and how they impact on the possibilities for ensuring efficient and democratic decision-making procedures beyond the state.