With cross-border problems being tackled collectively, the modern landscape of representation in the EU goes beyond the direct electoral link between national parliamentarians (MPs) and national citizens. Surprisingly, the debate has so far neglected the representative role of MPs themselves as central actors. In short, we lack both theory and empirics on a possible Europeanization of their representative patterns. Hence, this paper addresses the following research question: Which patterns of representation do national parliamentarians convey in EU affairs and how can potential differences in the choice of representative patterns be explained? Four ideal typical EU patterns of representation by MPs are conceptualized from a rational-choice neo-institutionalist Principal-Agent perspective. Empirically, the paper explores communicated patterns and explains potential differences in the choice thereof with a comparative design including Austria and Germany. It uses a Representative Claims Analysis (RCA) of plenary debates related to the Lisbon Treaty and the European debt crisis.
Keywords: European Union, representation, democracy, parliaments
