The cooperation of the council of ministers with the national parliaments in matters relating to membership of the European union – the Austrian model of EU scrutiny

Abstract

Each national parliament of the EU -28 has put in place scrutiny procedures to reinforce democratic control over EU matters and to ensure democratic accountability in EU decision making. One widespread type of Austrian scrutiny is the „mandating system”. As the name indicates, systems where the focus in on the process of EU decision-making rather than on an individual document emanating from the EU institutions belong to this scrutiny model. The principal subject of scrutiny is often the national government’s position in the Council. The procedural system includes in some cases a power for a E uropean Affairs Committee to give a direct mandate to a government before a minister can endorse legislation in Council meetings. Such systems are today in place in countries such as Croatia, Slovakia and Hungary.