This volume makes a theoretical as well as empirical contribution to the debate on the role of national parliaments in European politics by investigating their efforts to communicate EU issues to their electorates.

1. Introduction: National Parliaments, Electorates and EU Affairs
2. What Role for National Parliaments? European Integration and the Prospects of Parliamentary Democracy

I. Comparing Plenary Debates on EU Issues

3. Debating the State of the Union? Comparing Parliamentary Debates on EU Issues in Finland, France, Germany and the United Kingdom
4. Talking Europe, Using Europe - The EU'S Role in Parliamentary Competition in Italy and Spain (1986-2006)

II. Plenary Debates and their Impact

5. The Operating Logics of Weak and Strong Publics and the Communication of Europe
6. EU Politicisation and National Parliaments: Visibility of Choices and Better Aligned Ministers?
7. Public Parliamentary Activities and Open Methods of Coordination

III. Beyond Plenary Debates: Informing the Electorate and Defending Constituency Interests in EU Affairs

8. The Silence of the Shepherds - How the Austrian Parliament Informs its Citizens on European Issues
9. Who Cares About the EU? French MPs and European Politics Since 1988
10. Conclusion: Connecting with the Electorate in EU Affairs?

Katrin Auel is Assistant Professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna and an associate member of the Centre for European Studies at Sciences Po Paris. Her research focuses on Europeanisation, legislative studies, and multilevel governance (EU, German federalism). She is especially interested in the role of national parliaments in the European Union.

Tapio Raunio is Professor of political science at the University of Tampere. His research interests include the role of national legislatures and parties in European integration, the European Parliament and Europarties, Nordic politics and the Finnish political system.