The European Parliament’s mandate for trilogues: explaining the discretion of political group advisors

Figures & data

Table 1. Expected impact on PGAs’ pro-active involvement.

Meso-level	Indicators
Clear political direction that PGAs can use to construct a mandate reinforces their pro-active involvement.	Group for which PGAs work
Salience constrains pro-active involvement.	Subject matter in relation to specific, or types of, files or policy areas
Complexity reinforces pro-active involvement.	Subject matter in relation to specific, or types of, files or policy areas
Micro-level	Indicators
Trust based on shared ideological affiliation reinforces pro-active involvement.	Political experience Political affiliation Track record
Political sensitivity reinforces pro-active involvement.	Seniority
Access to information through informal networks reinforces pro-active involvement.	Interaction with internal and external actors

Table 2. Survey response and interviewees.

Political group	Population^a	Survey response (rate)	Interviewees^b
EPP Christian Democrats	62	13 (21%)	6
S&D Social Democrats	58	14 (24%)	5
ALDE Liberals^c	41	19 (46%)	6
ECR Conservatists and Reformists	30	12 (40%)	2
GREENS/EFA European Free Alliance	47	22 (47%)	6
GUE/NGL United Left/Nordic Green Left	37	13 (35%)	1
EFD Europe of Freedom and Democracy^d	33	6 (18%)	1
Total	308	99 (32.14%)	27

^aNumber of PGAs published on the EP party groups’ websites (January 2014). The study includes the seven party groups of the 7th parliamentary legislature during which the data were collected.

^bThese numbers include interviews with MEP assistants. Three additional interviews were held with EP officials amounting to a total of 30 interviews.

^cALDE changed its name to Renew Europe after the 2019 elections.

^dEFD and its successor Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (2014–2019) had a right-wing Eurosceptic orientation.

Table

Exploratory informal interviews

I.01. Former parliamentary assistant, February 2012

I.02. Parliamentary assistant, February 2012

I.03. Former parliamentary assistant, February 2012

I.04. Former PGA, February 2012

I.05. National delegation advisor, October 2013

I.06. EP official, October 2013

Semi-structured interviews

NB – The 21 group advisors worked for the following committees at the time of interview: Foreign Affairs (5), Economic and Monetary Affairs (4), Industry, Research and Energy (3), Internal Market and Consumer Protection (3), Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (2), International Trade (2), Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (1), and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (1). 12 interviewees also filled out the survey. ‘SR’ corresponds to survey respondent.

I.1. Head of unit political group secretariat and former PGA, 6 November 2013

I.2. Group advisor, 2 December 2013

I.3. Group advisor, 18 December 2013 (SR67)

I.4. Group advisor, 20 January 2014

I.5. Group advisor, 20 January 2014 (SR48)

I.6. Group advisor, 21 January 2014

I.7. Group advisor, 21 January 2014

I.8. Group advisor, 27 January 2014

I.9. Group advisor, 27 January 2014 (SR39)

I.10. Group advisor, 28 January 2014 (SR53)

I.11. Group advisor, 28 January 2014

I.12. Group advisor, 28 January 2014 (SR17)

I.13. Group advisor, 29 January 2014 (SR52)

I.14. Group advisor, 21 February 2014 (SR49)

I.15. Group advisor, 4 March 2014

I.16. Group advisor, 4 March 2014

I.17. Group advisor, 18 March (SR99)

I.18. Group advisor, 24 March 2014

I.19. Group advisor, 24 March 2014 (SR6)

I.20. Group advisor, 23 May 2014 (SR73)

I.21. Group advisor, 10 June 2014 (SR97)

I.22. Group advisor, 11 June 2014 (SR25)

I.23. Former EP official, 4 April 2018

I.24. Former EP official, 15 May 2018