Ο ρόλος της Βουλής των Αντιπροσώπων ως θεματοφύλακας των ευρωπαϊκών αρχών: Η περίπτωση της δημοκρατίας, της λογοδοσίας και του κράτους δικαίου

Abstract

Since the Treaty of Lisbon, national parliaments have a twofold role to play in preserving EU principles: one through their direct contribution/involvement in the EU decision-making processes, such as through the subsidiarity monitoring mechanism, and, secondly, through their indirect contribution, by implementing the EU acquis and promoting European values internally. The paper focuses on the House of Representatives’ role in “internally” promoting EU democratic principles (a) in its internal organisation, construction and pre-decisionmaking processes and (b) in the proposition, drafting and implementation of laws. The paper begins the analysis by establishing the EU “democratic standard” that national parliaments must comply with and moves on to discuss whether this standard is effectively preserved by the House of Representatives in their internal obligations. In doing so, it inter alia assesses the newly adopted Code of Conduct for the members of Parliament and its effectiveness towards filling the gaps of the past.