Within the federal system of the German Federal Republic, the regional Parliaments were attested a loss of competences and influence over the past decades [Thaysen 2002]. More recent publications e.g. by Reutter [2008] counter this standpoint, especially as new polity frames in the European multi- level governance system induced by the Treaty of Lisbon are taken under consideration. Also the European policy frames (Europa 2020 Strategy) are directly inflicting Regional Parliaments. In light of these current developments this paper draws the line between Regional Policy and Parliamentarian developments on regional level in Germany (Länder). This connection between polity and policy has produced new analytical findings, which are presented in this paper on the basis of two arguments: At a first instance the point is established that EU regional policy has become a main policy instrument on regional level and replaced other regional instruments. More so it is to be argued that in some Länder the EU Policy has become dominant. This is in line with the second key argument, that EU regional policy has increased the regional development aspect within policy making and therefore strengthened the role of regional parliaments and in parallel reinforced the federal competences. In a concluding outlook the point is put forward, that the democratic quality of regional policy making has experienced a new dimension due to regional parliaments and not the European Parliament.
