Wolfgang Wessels is Jean Monnet Professor of Political Science, University of Cologne, Germany. He is also chairman of the executive board of the Trans European Political Studies Association (TEPSA), Belgium, and of the Institute for European Politics (IEP), Germany. Wolfgang has published widely in leading journals and edited volumes and is presently the coordinator of several academic networks: 'PADEMIA - Erasmus Academic Network on Parliamentary Democracy in Europe', 'EXACT - Marie Curie Initial Training Network', 'THESEUS' and 'Observatory of Parliaments after the Lisbon Treaty'.