The Evolving Role of Parliaments in Europe - L'Evolution du Rôle des Parlements en Europe

The present book contains the papers presented at the conference "Democracy in Europe: The Evolving Role of Parliaments" held at the University of Limburg in Maastricht, The Netherlands. The conference was organized by METRO.
The main thrust of the book is the search for and discovery of the common and divergent aspects of the national parliamentary systems of the member states of the European Community. For the further development of democracy in Europe it is necessary to be aware of these national differences and similarities.
This comparative analysis may contribute to the development of a European Parliamentary Model, which would be of great relevance to the ongoing debate on the "democratic deficit" within the European Community. A clear comparative analysis of national parliamentary systems will contribute to the development of democratic legitimacy at the level of the European Community.