The role of national parliaments in EU policy coordination: the case of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament (ELAK) in shaping Estonia's EU policy, focusing on the committee's influence over government positions in EU affairs. Despite ELAK's formal authority to approve negotiating positions and ensure compliance with subsidiarity, its practical impact appears limited. The study employs a quantitative analysis of over 3,200 committee decisions from 2010 to 2024, combining descriptive statistics and logistic regression to assess ELAK's assertiveness in scrutinising governmental positions. The findings reveal that while ELAK possesses significant formal powers, its effectiveness is shaped primarily by issue salience and procedural factors. Assertive decisions, such as amendments or rejections of government positions, are more likely in specific policy areas (e.g., environment and education) and when formal voting procedures are used. However, there is no significant evidence that ELAK's assertiveness has increased over time since the Lisbon Treaty, nor that opposition-led sessions yield more assertive outcomes. The study concludes that ELAK functions primarily as a watchdog rather than an active policy shaper.