Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet folyóirata - 1998 (4. évfolyam)
1998 / 2. szám - ESEMÉNYNAPTÁR - Resumé
Resume within the integration is still not sure to develop in the way that fits French desires. In addition to this, the two big military conflicts in the beginning of the 90s - the Gulf War and the Crisis in (the former) Yugoslavia - have clearly demonstrated that Europe in itself - without the US - is not able to act effectively in case of international crises. In addition to this, in the case of the Balkan war, in the neighbourhood of the European Unio EU, we could not even speak about a united European stand. The changing conditions require adjustment from each participant of international relations. In the case of France, successful adjustment is especially a necessity if its leaders wish to preserve the role of the country in international affairs In the light of the official objectives of French European policy - the deepening and the following Eastern enlargement of the EU, the strengthening of the independent European pillar of security policy and the confirmation of the importance of Europe in world politics and world economy - this study examines the steps aiming at the consolidation of the French positions. Enikő Győri The French Parliament and the EU Integration Since the establishment of the Vth Republic, the French National Assembly and the Senate have been entitled with relatively weak power vis-a-vis the executive, i.e. the President and the Government. This statement is especially true in the domain of foreign and European policy: French Members of Parliament used to play little role in shaping the country's European integration policy. Due to the introduction of the system of direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979 and to the fact the in the 1980s a growing amount of domestic legislation was gradually transferred to Brussels, French deputies and senators started a long bargaining process with the subsequent governments in order to enhance their influence in the European policy-making. As a result of this, the 1992 amendment of the French Constitution, which was necessiated by the Maastricht Treaty, created the bases for parliamentary control over the integration process in France: since then the French Government is obliged to fully inform Parliament on all EU developments, as well as deputies and senators may adopt parliamentary resolutions on any subject. By this the base for parliamentary influence was created, though these resolutions do not have legally, only politically binding effect. In this study the author describes in detail the procedure by which draft Community legislation is being examined in both houses of the French Parliament. She concludes that the key of efficiency in the parliamentary control is that national Parliaments need an early involvement and full information on the latest developments in the European Union. A proper 1998. nyár 131
