EU PARTY POLITICS & EUROSKEPTICISM

"Who are the real parties in European politics?"

"National parties."

"About how many national parties exist in the EU?"

"Around 300."

"What is the curve of European politics?"

"Imperfect relationship between traditional left/right conflict and the new transnational European conflict."

"How were EP political groups established?"

"They originated in the ECSC Assembly."

"What is the double loyalty of MEPs?"

loyalty to national party and EP political group.

"What is a non-attached member?"

"An MEP without a political group."

"What is euroskepticism?"

"Explicit rejection or contestation of European integration."

"What does being euroskeptic imply?"

"Opposition to integration is stronger than support or indifference."

"Soft euroskepticism"

"Wants to reform or change aspects of the EU."

"Hard euroskepticism"

"Wants to leave the EU entirely."

"Renew Europe ideology"

Centrist liberal, pro-European, supports market economy, individual freedoms, and social protection

"Greens/EFA ideology"

Environmentalism, climate action, social justice, regional autonomy, cultural diversity, pro-European.

"S&D ideology"

Center-left, equality, workers’ rights, welfare policies, pro-European."

"The Left ideology"

"Democratic socialist and anti-neoliberal; supports environmental protection; wants to reform the EU."

"EPP ideology"

"Center-right Christian democratic and strongly pro-European."

"ECR ideology"

Conservative, sovereignist, anti-federalist, individual liberty, wants reduced EU role.

"Patriots for Europe ideology"

National sovereignty, anti-immigration, traditional values, soft euroskeptic

"Europe of Sovereign Nations ideology"

Far-right, anti-immigration, strongly euroskeptic; strong social conservatism

"Largest EP political party"

"EPP, followed by S&D

"Transnational federations"

"Created in the 1970s before direct EP elections."

"European political parties"

"Formalized federations increasing discipline and cohesion."

"Authority for European Political Parties"

Registers, regulates, and sanctions Europarties; oversees Spitzenkandidaten

"Why are EP elections second-order elections?"

Low turnout, protest voting, national focus, and government party losses.

"What economic model does ECR support?"

"Free-market economics."

"What does the Authority for European Political Parties regulate?"

"The statute and financing of Europarties."

"What do European political parties improve?"

"Parliamentary discipline and internal cohesion."