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Abstract

What were the effects of the recent European economic crisis on parliamentary democracy in the European Union? Were national parliaments negatively affected? In the aftermath of the crisis these questions generated a very lively academic discussion. In her forthcoming book, PADEMIA member Aleksandra Maatsch makes a significant contribution to that debate by analysing how national parliaments and parliamentary parties performed their legislative, representative, and control functions during the reform of European economic governance. The findings demonstrate that formal powers of national parliaments are limited while the international responsibility among governing parties is prioritised. Nevertheless, parliaments have not become mere ‘talking shops’ either.