A new radical left Euroscepticism in the EP? New kids on the (left) block

Since the Great Recession, the Left group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL) has undergone a significant change in its composition. The new political landscape in the political group is due to the inclusion of new radical left parties (RLPs) that adopt a social-populist political stance and hold 15 of the GUE/NGL's 38 seats in the EP. This change in composition has brought with it a normative change, with these newcomers holding more favourable positions towards the European Union and European integration. However, this (new) pro-integration stance clashes with the traditional criticism of the EU as an existing institution, leading to an ambivalent position between disruptive and constructive politics. Previous research has shown that mainstream parties see the GUE/NGL as a more responsible opposition in the EP, but little is known about how and when RLPs adopt which forms of Eurosceptic stance in the EP. Therefore, empirical research is needed to understand how this dynamic of new and established RLPs has impacted their work in the European Parliament (EP) and how mainstream parties perceive the work of GUE/NGL Members of Parliament (MEPs) in the EP. This paper examines the behaviour of GUE/NGL MEPs based on elite interviews with members of the GUE/NGL and other political groups working together in committees where constructive work for legislation is needed. The results aim to understand under which conditions GUE/NGL MEPs adopt forms of irresponsible opposition related to their Eurosceptic positions and when it chooses a more constructive approach.