Surveys of Members of the European Parliament, 2000 and 2006

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>The most significant change in the institutional structure of European governance over the past two decades has been the increased power of the European Parliament (EP). Given the Parliament’s growing influence and the dramatic European Union(EU) enlargement in 2004, it has become increasingly important to monitor the attitudes and behaviour of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from different member states.<br>
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The European Parliament Research Group (EPRG) conducted two surveys of MEPs in 2000 and 2006. The 2000 survey was conducted in October-December 2000 and surveyed MEPs of the Fifth European Parliament (1999-2004). The 2006 survey was conducted in March-June 2006 and surveyed MEPs of the Sixth European Parliament (2004-09).<br>
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Further information about the survey can be found on the <a href="http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EPRG/" title ="EPRG MEP Survey">EPRG MEP Survey</a> web page or the <a href="http://www.esrcsocietytoday/esrcinfocentre/viewawardpage.aspx?awardnumber=RES-000-22-1554" title ="ESRC Award">ESRC Award</a> web page.<br><br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>The surveys include the following categories of questions:<ul><li>personal details (member state, date first elected to EP, previous political experience)</li><li>electoral systems and candidate selection</li><li>campaigning aims and activities</li><li>attitudes/behaviour relating to representation</li><li>behaviour in committees and voting in the Parliament</li><li>general political attitudes</li><li>attitudes towards specific EU policies</li><li>attitudes towards EU institutional reform</li></ul>