How to ‘decaffeinate’ a legislative report: emerging discourses on the climate change-migration nexus within the European Parliament

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the different discourses adopted concerning the climate change-migration nexus within the European Parliament (EP). It uses a critical discourse analysis approach to analyse a specific motion for resolution report, its amendments, and plenary debates, as well as an expert interview with the rapporteur to gain further insights into the political dynamics and challenges involved in the process. An own-initiative report is chosen for the analysis to reveal conflicting discourse-making processes between various political groups within the EP and to better understand the role of the EP in the legislative branch of the European Union. It is found that political ideology plays an influential role. Even though political groups agree on the aims of the report, they constantly debate and use amendments to change content and extent. Therefore, we claimed that political discourses in a parliamentary setting should be analysed by specifically evaluating diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational arguments of discourses.KEYWORDS: Climate changemigrationEuropean Parliamentown-initiative procedurecritical discourse analysis AcknowledgementsWe would like to express our sincere thanks to Thomas Faist for his helpful comments and guidance in developing this paper from a research placement on climate change and migration at Bielefeld University. We are also grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their invaluable insights and feedback.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 Argentinian and Spanish politician González holds a prominent position within the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and has served as a member of the Madrid Assembly. Since 2019, she has been actively involved in the EP as a member, where she serves as the Co-Chair of the Intergroups for Disability and Anti-Racism and Diversity. Additionally, she has taken on the role of EP Standing Rapporteur for humanitarian aid.2 S&D is the second largest political group in the European Parliament, with 143 members out of 769. This gives the S&D a share of 18.60% of the Parliament's total membership. The S&D is a centre-left and pro-EU political group that is committed to the values of social justice, equality, and social democracy.3 MEP González employed the term ‘decaffeination’ to emphasise how centre-right, and right political groups sought to diminish the report's content, in other words, to dilute or weaken it.4 Draft report – on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countrieshttps://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/DEVE-PR-650537_EN.html.5 Amendments 1–309https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/DEVE-AM-657479_EN.pdf.6 Final reporthttps://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0115_EN.pdf.7 The impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countries (debate)https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2021-05-17-ITM-022_EN.html.8 EPP is the largest political group in the EP, with 177 members with the 23.02% of the Parliament's total membership. The EPP is a centre-right and pro-EU political group that is committed to the values of liberal conservatism and Christian democracy.9 Renew is a group of liberal and pro-European political parties in the EP. It has 101 members, representing 13.13% of the Parliament's total membership. The group is committed to classical, social and conservative liberalism.10 ECR is a centre-right, anti-federalist political group in the EP. It has 66 members, representing 8.58% of the Parliament's total membership. The group's main goals are to protect national sovereignty, promote free markets, and reduce the size and scope of the EU.11 Identity is a right-wing, Eurosceptic and anti-immigration political group in the EP. It has 62 members, representing 8.06% of the Parliament's total membership. The group's main goals are to protect national identity, halt immigration, and promote a more traditional vision of Europe.12 The Greens are a centre-left political group that advocates for environmental protection, regional autonomy, and European integration. They have a membership of 72 and hold 9.36% of the seats in the EP.13 GUE/NGL is a left-wing political group with Eurosceptic democratic socialist and communist parties. They have a membership of 37 and hold 4.81% of the seats in the EP.Additional informationNotes on contributorsMert SöylerMert Söyler holds an MA in sociology from Bielefeld University. His research interests include historical sociology, political sociology, nationalism, and critical discourse analysis.Martín Torino ZavaletaMartín Torino Zavaleta holds an MA in sociology from Bielefeld University and an MSc in global politics from Birkbeck University. His research interests include framing, discourse analysis, and global governance.Olivia Jane WhelanOlivia Jane Whelan holds an MA in sociology from Bielefeld University and the position of Managing Editor of the journal Global Social Policy. Her research interests include global governance and migration, with a methodological focus on discourse analysis.