Political Career Paths and the European Parliament

Abstract

This study examines how seats in the European Parliament fit into domestic political careers. It shows that the Parliament's four largest national delegations have developed a core of MEPs who have made long-term commitments to the European institution. There are significant national differences in these patterns, but as a whole they make it more likely that future European Parliaments will be filled with careerist MEPs who will view the Parliament as their principal political arena, and who will seek to increase the institution's prestige and power relative to other European and domestic institutions.