The Portuguese Parliament: Blazing the Trail to the European Scrutiny Trophy?

Abstract

This article analyses the constitutional, statutory and informal arrangements available to the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic for participation in EU decision making. The focus is on the 2006 European Scrutiny Act, the 2010 reform of the scrutiny procedures and the Barroso initiative. These developments provide a solid basis on which the Assembly's dependence on the Government can be reduced. The informal method of parliamentary scrutiny of EU affairs hitherto practised in Portugal has morphed into a document-based system. In these respects, the Portuguese Parliament no longer deserves the epithet of a laggard.