the democratic credentials of the new european union: does the constitution increase the eu’s...
TRANSCRIPT
The democratic credentials of the new European Union: does the constitution increase the EU’s
democratic legitimacy?
9 September 2004
Richard Laming
Director, Federal Union
Bureau member, Union of European Federalists
Why democracy matters in the EU
• there are issues too big for an individual country to solve on its own
• member states are themselves democratic
• EU must itself be democratic if not to undermine democracy
Two meanings of “democratic deficit”
• Originally (1977) the inability of the EU to act
• Since the Single European Act (1986) and the introduction of QMV the extent to which EU decision-making outstrips citizens’ control
Five decision-makers in the European Union
• European Commission
• member state governments
• European Parliament
• member state parliaments
• the citizens
Five areas of decision-making
• Leadership of the EU
• The legislative process
• Controlling justice and home affairs
• Foreign and defence policy
• Protecting human rights
What do we mean by gaining influence?
• Influence in this context is not a zero-sum game
• Interdependence between the different countries of Europe already exists
• Influence means that politics regains control over economics
Leadership of the EU
? ? ? - ?European
Commissionmember
state governments
European Parliament
member state parliaments
the citizens
The legislative process
- European
Commissionmember
state governments
European Parliament
member state parliaments
the citizens
Controlling justice and home affairs
European
Commissionmember
state governments
European Parliament
member state parliaments
the citizens
Foreign and defence policy
- - -European
Commissionmember
state governments
European Parliament
member state parliaments
the citizens
Protecting human rights
- - - - European
Commissionmember
state governments
European Parliament
member state parliaments
the citizens
Democracy is not all that matters in the EU
• There is more to legitimacy than just democracy
• The rules must not only exist but be understood and respected by the citizens
Final thoughts
• Politics is the art of the possible - Bismarck
• Politics is the art of making possible what is necessary - Monnet
More information
www.federalunion.org.uk
www.federaleurope.org
www.fedtrust.co.uk