Richard Corbett, MEP, has published an assessment of Parliament's impact in the field of integration. It was launched this month at Strasbourg at a ceremony attended by the President of the Parliament, Jose Maria Gil-Robles. Although the process of European integration has been going on for half a century, it is only since 1979 and the advent of direct elections that Parliament has been fully part of the process. Parliament acquired increasing influence by exploiting the possibilities provided by the treaties.
Secondly, it has sought to extend the constitutional framework within which it operated. In 1984 it adopted the Draft Treaty establishing the European Union which led to the Single European Act of 1986. Both this Act and the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht increased its powers, and hence gave it more opportunity to exert its influence on European integration. Mr Corbett applauds the record of the Parliament to date, and concludes that it "will continue to bring a degree of stimulus for further integration for many years to come."
Richard Corbett is in an ideal position to write the book. For many years he worked as a civil servant in the Parliament before being elected as an MEP in 1996. He is also the Deputy Secretary General of the Socialist Group in the Parliament. The book gets a glowing review from the former President of the Parliament, Klaus Hansch, who states that "anyone interested in the process of European integration" will find interest in this "fascinating insight into the impact of the Parliament."
Corbett, R. The European Parliament's role in closer EU integration. Macmillan Press.