Abstract

The article examines the relationship between the euro crisis and the politicisation of the EU within the Italian parliamentary arena. Considering the traditional lack of attention devoted by national MPs to EU affairs, especially in a country well known for its Europeanism, the study tests whether the euro crisis acted as a catalyst factor for an enhanced commitment of MPs "vis-à-vis" the EU when budgetary policy was at stake. Key analytical dimensions of politicisation were observed over time through the investigation of MPs' behaviour and discourse during the approval of fundamental decisions within the context of multilevel economic policy coordination. The main assumption is that EU policy pressures matter in politicising the EU domestically, but only if they are incorporated within the priorities of national parties.