Parliamentary Functions in Cross-Border Cooperation: The Case of the Upper Rhine Council

In our study, we aim to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the parliamentary dimension of cross-border cooperation by analyzing the case of the Upper Rhine Council. Our research is guided by the question: Does the Upper Rhine Council fulfil cross-border parliamentary functions in pursuit of policy goals? Based on an analysis of 69 resolutions published between 2016 and 2022 of the Upper Rhine Council, we empirically analyse the parliamentary functions the Upper Rhine Council fulfils, namely representation, articulation and scrutiny and explore to what extent the institution pursues its own policy objectives. In its representative function, the council exercises its articulation function not only vis-à-vis the Upper Rhine Conference, which it “accompanies” according to its founding agreement, but also vis-à-vis multiple institutions at various political levels of the three states bordering the Upper Rhine and vis-à-vis the EU. The articulation function is exercised multilaterally, across borders and levels. The Upper Rhine Council also formulates ex ante and ex post demands, which we have categorized between the articulation and control functions. The Upper Rhine Council is advocating primarily for legal regulations and procedural changes.