INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Does Power Trump Values? The Influence of European Political Parties on their National Member Parties JO LEINEN AND FABIAN PESCHER September 2018 n European political parties(EuPPs) can sanction their member parties, up to suspen­sion or exclusion. These measures are rarely used because they have little impact and generate costs for the respective EuPP, due to the loss of a member party and thus power. n The power of EuPPs over their member parties is limited, because elections – includ­ing European elections – are conducted at the national level. However, the influence of EuPPs on their member parties would grow if they were able to compete for mandates with transnational lists and distribute political power. n The effect of sanctions could be increased by linking EuPPs more closely to their af­filiated political groups in the European Parliament(EP). If suspension from a EuPP also meant suspension from the affiliated political group, the EuPP’s leverage would be considerably higher, because membership of one of the large political groups is essential for access to resources, important functions, and legislative roles. n EuPPs should formalise the criteria for sanctions and make decision-making more objective and independent from political considerations. The nomination of stand­ing rapporteurs could render decisions less arbitrary and provide necessary first­hand information.