The Involvement of Administrative Players in the EU Decision Making Process

Do rapporteurs receive independent expert policy advice? Indirect lobbying via the European Parliament's committee secretariat

“…But the extent to which this advice affects outcomes, although touched upon in this paper, remains open to future research. To set the scene, and to assess the truth of Neuhold and Radulova's (2006) claim that, on occasion, officials draft entire legislative reports, this suggestion was put to the population of interviewed secretariat officials: over a quarter of officials (12/39) claimed to have written at least one draft report in its entirety on behalf of a rapporteur, and seven interviewees declined to give an answer. The same officials were asked about the consequences of the discretionary authority that they have to order amendments on the final voting lists.…”

“…Their role appears to be centred on developing a coherent party line inside their group, and then marketing this position both within the group, and to a wider audience (Winzen 2011). By contrast, the literature makes clear that officials from committee secretariats are actively involved at the draft report stage (Neuhold and Radulova 2006;Neunreither 2006;Winzen 2011).…”

“…Neunreither (2006: 49) illustrates this with the aid of an EP internal survey which showed that, in over 80 per cent of reports, the secretariat provides assistance that is 'beyond technical and procedural questions'. Neuhold and Radulova (2006) also emphasise the role that committee assistants play in drafting reports, although they make clear that final responsibility remains with the rapporteur.…”

Technical or Political? An Exploration of the Work of Officials in the Committees of the European Parliament

“…Such information is exchanged in the first meeting with the rapporteur which normally takes place before the first draft is produced. In this meeting MEPs instruct officials on their positions towards the main problems and questions -either in the form of specific instructions or, at other times, the official might put specific questions to the member on which information is necessary in order to draft the report (Neuhold and Radulova 2006). In both cases, however, the official is closely involved in identifying the basic knowledge underpinning the report and the main questions to be addressed (Interview 13).…”

“…They help chairmen in managing the committee business. Although their role has declined over time, it appears that they still cooperate closely with parliamentarians in many situations (Neuhold 2001, Neuhold and Radulova 2006, Neunreither 2006, pp. 49 -51, Corbett et al 2007.…”