ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the establishment, evolution, institutional organization, accountability and policy-making functions of 22 international parliamentary institutions (IPIs). Among the 22 IPIs under consideration, only three have an influential role in their regional international organizations (RIO’s) governance systems, in the sense that they are able to exercise, to a different extent, at least some of the core competences shared by national parliaments in terms of policymaking and accountability. In other cases, parliamentary institutions have to defend themselves from attacks to their competences, independence and even existence, carried out by regional intergovernmental bodies. Sometimes, IPIs may be considered as relevant actors not for their capacity to influence the decision-making process of RIOs, but because of their ability to promote civic dialogue or legitimize governance systems. Especially in RIOs aiming at establishing some forms of integration, and not only co-operation, among their member states, IPIs may be effective in promoting socialization and leadership formation.
