Navigating change: the new European Parliament, Euroscepticism, and the global political landscape

Abstract

This paper examines the interplay between the newly constituted European Parliament (EP), the rise of Euroscepticism, and the evolving global political landscape. An analysis is presented herein of how Eurosceptic sentiment, originating in socioeconomic discrepancies, cultural concerns, and perceived democratic deficit, influences EP’s debates. The initial phase of the research involves constructing a conceptual framework encompassing the ideologies of the EP’s political groups. The principal hypothesis is substantiated by a content analysis of EP debates. By adopting an integrated analytical lens, the paper offers a comprehensive understanding of how internal political dynamics and global pressures converge to shape the EU’s trajectory in an era of uncertainty. By analysing stenographic records of parliamentary speeches, the study identifies three dominant rhetorical patterns: (1) agenda shifting through thematic reframing, (2) strategic avoidance of participation in politically sensitive debates, and (3) the deployment of emotionally charged, populist rhetoric alongside pragmatic critiques. Drawing on discourse theory and typologies of Euroscepticism, the analysis reveals how parties from across the Eurosceptic spectrum engage with EU policy in ways that both challenge and adapt to the institutional context of the EP.