Parliamentary diplomacy between the EU and the Republic of Korea

Abstract

This paper studies the practice of parliamentary diplomacy in the context of EU–Korea relations arguing that this is an essential element in the bilateral relationship. Having defined the concept of parliamentary diplomacy, the development of interaction between the European Parliament (EP) and the National Assembly of Republic of Korea, Korean National Assembly (KNA) is being analysed. Their bilateral relations began in 1994 and further deepened in 2004 when the EP set up the Delegation for Relations with the Korean Peninsula. Subsequently, the EP Delegation and the KNA-EU Interparliamentary Council regularly met to discuss various issues, from trade agreements to security issues on the Korean Peninsula and defence matters more generally. This examination of parliamentary diplomacy also demonstrates the way in which bilateral relations have been influenced by electoral cycles on both sides and more generally by changes in the respective domestic political situations.