Turbulent Times for the European Parliament’s Political Groups? Lessons on Continuity and Change

Abstract

AbstractAgainst the background of the European Parliament (EP) operating in a polycrisis, we review the chapters of the edited volume and their innovative inroads into studying EP’s political groups and their multiple functions, powers and practices. In this concluding chapter, we pay specific attention to the role of Euroscepticism, political groups as democratic actors and the formal and informal institutions of the political groups. By comparing the book chapters, we draw overarching lessons on continuity and change in the policy- and decision-making between and within the political groups. This chapter closes by discussing political groups in the broader context of European integration and the new research avenues that can be pursued to further deepen our understanding of the political groups.