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Democracy Versus Diplomacy? The Involvement of External Actors in Trilogue Negotiations

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  • Céleste Bonnamy

Abstract

This article examines the role of external actors in shaping trilogue practices, using the Copyright in the Digital Single Market (DSM) directive adopted in 2019 as a case study. Building on Roederer‐Rynning and Greenwood's conceptualisation of trilogues as ‘politicised diplomacy’, it identifies two distinct categories of external actors: French and German heads of state and digital activists. Whilst state leaders reinforced a diplomatic logic through closed‐door negotiations, digital activists introduced a democratic logic, employing protest actions to demand transparency and inclusivity. These dynamics disrupted the usual functioning of the Eurocratic space. The article contributes to the practice‐theory framework by foregrounding a democratic logic alongside the established parliamentary and diplomatic logics. It offers a nuanced perspective on trilogues as socially constructed spaces and highlights the evolving role of external actors in European legislative processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Céleste Bonnamy, 2026. "Democracy Versus Diplomacy? The Involvement of External Actors in Trilogue Negotiations," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(2), pages 603-622, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jcmkts:v:64:y:2026:i:2:p:603-622
    DOI: 10.1111/jcms.13772
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Céleste Bonnamy, 2023. "From liberalisation to regulation: managerial political work in the European digital copyright policy (2014–2019)," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/365387, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
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    3. Thomas Laloux & Lara Panning, 2021. "Why Defend Something I Don’t Agree with? Conflicts within the Commission and Legislative Amendments in Trilogues," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 40-51.
    4. Justin Greenwood & Christilla Roederer-Rynning, 2019. "In the Shadow of Public Opinion: The European Parliament, Civil Society Organizations, and the Politicization of Trilogues," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 316-326.
    5. Bonnamy, Céleste, 2023. "From liberalisation to regulation: managerial political work in the European digital copyright policy (2014–2019)," SocArXiv 3v7qe_v1, Center for Open Science.
    6. Lewis, Jeffrey, 2005. "The Janus Face of Brussels: Socialization and Everyday Decision Making in the European Union," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 59(4), pages 937-971, October.
    7. Thomas Laloux & Lara Panning, 2021. "Why Defend Something I Don’t Agree with? Conflicts within the Commission and Legislative Amendments in Trilogues," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 40-51.
    8. Tom Delreux & Thomas Laloux, 2018. "Concluding Early Agreements in the EU: A Double Principal†Agent Analysis of Trilogue Negotiations," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 300-317, March.
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