The PiS and Fidesz approaches toward the European Union

Abstract

This dissertation is a comparative study of the Fidesz party in Hungary and the PiS party in Poland in their approach towards the European Union and the Euroscepticism shown in several areas(Such as migration and rule of law), whilst exploring whether their nationalistic and conservative agendas come out in these areas. The study also investigated the Euroscepticism of both political parties regarding the EU and the extent of the Euroscepticism, including whether they use a hard or soft Euroscepticism. The study emphasises how PiS and Fidesz frequently portray the EU as a danger to national identity and sovereignty in the respective member states, even though they profit economically from membership. Finally, while both PiS and Fidesz benefit from EU membership, they feel that the EU challenges them with threats to sovereignty and unwanted policies that increase Eurosceptic sentiment towards the supranational organisation; thus, the research will reveal how their tactics are representative of a larger pattern of growing Euroscepticism in Eastern and Central Europe.