The main questions of this study are: What is the EU actually, how does the EU system work at all and which goals and values is the EU pursuing? How is the EU institutionally structured and who are the main actors in the EU? How does the EU make decisions, how does it act and how is the EU democratic?
Corona, the rule of law, migration, the economy, relations with the USA and China: The European Union (EU), which is far from always being united itself, faces a multitude of challenges. The EU is often criticized in the system of international relations for showing a “democratic deficit”. In this essay, the foundations, institutions, and procedures of the EU system are discussed with a view to the central question of whether this criticism is correct and whether there are ways to give it democratic legitimacy or to increase it.
In view of the initial questions, the fundamentals, central institutions, and procedures of the EU are discussed within the scope of the present study to better understand the complex relationships and the controversial position. This makes it possible to find answers to important problem areas about the democratic legitimacy of the EU. The aim is to make an objective and scientific as possible contribution to the debate on the “EU Project” whose finality is unknown.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 What is the “EU”?
3 Characterization of the EU
4 Fundamental Values and Principles of the EU
5 Institutional Structure and Actors of the EU
6 Decision-Making Process of the EU
7 Influence of EU Citizens on European Politics
8 Democratic Legitimacy of the EU
9 Conclusion
Objective and Research Topics
This essay examines the foundational structures, institutional mechanisms, and decision-making processes of the European Union to evaluate the validity of criticisms regarding a "democratic deficit" and to explore potential avenues for enhancing its democratic legitimacy.
- The foundational identity and nature of the European Union as a political system.
- Analysis of core institutional actors and their functional roles.
- Evaluation of the decision-making processes and their transparency.
- Critique of the democratic legitimacy within the EU framework.
- The impact of integration and enlargement on the EU's operational effectiveness.
Excerpt from the Book
8 Democratic Legitimacy of the EU
The next point in the EU debate is that the political work of European unification, despite its 70-year success story and all reform efforts, is not sufficiently democratically legitimized. First, the EU lacks a European nation. Second, it has no own statehood and is only an association of states. Third, their political system shows a certain democratic deficit. These legal-institutional aspects make it difficult for the EU not only to pursue its goal catalogs and its universally valid values for an effective cooperation, but also to achieve its democratic legitimacy.
At first glance, it seems plausible to assume that the EU pursues the goal of the rule of law or the principle of compliance with the law, since all decisions and procedures of the community are based on the treaties of the EEC/EC/EU. These were agreed voluntarily and democratically by all member states. On closer inspection, however, it turns out differently. Despite all the agreements, treaties and political institutions or principles that can also be found in a democratically constituted classical nation-state, the EU is in fact not constituted properly democratically. This clearly shows that the EU has a structural and an institutional democratic deficit.
Another point of criticism also relates to the lack of transparency in the network of the EU treaties, which is difficult to understand. At this point one must also criticize the regulations, directives, and norms of the EU, which are often understood as nonsensical and superfluous, the number of which has been increasing steadily since the Maastricht Treaty (1992).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of current challenges facing the EU and defines the scope and research questions regarding its institutional and democratic framework.
2 What is the “EU”?: Defines the EU as a unique political entity, explaining its evolutionary path through treaties and its nature as an association of states.
3 Characterization of the EU: Discusses the theoretical and political classification of the EU as a sui generis system, balancing supranational and intergovernmental elements.
4 Fundamental Values and Principles of the EU: Outlines the common values, such as rule of law and subsidiarity, that form the basis of the European community.
5 Institutional Structure and Actors of the EU: Details the primary institutions like the Commission, Parliament, and Council, and their respective roles in the political architecture.
6 Decision-Making Process of the EU: Analyzes how policies are formed, the role of consensus versus majority voting, and the budgetary processes.
7 Influence of EU Citizens on European Politics: Explores the direct and indirect ways European citizens participate in and influence the EU's political direction.
8 Democratic Legitimacy of the EU: Investigates the structural and institutional criticisms regarding the democratic deficit within the European system.
9 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and suggests that further legal and institutional reforms are necessary to strengthen democratic participation and effectiveness.
Keywords
European Union, Democratic Deficit, Institutional Structure, Supranational Integration, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Treaty of Lisbon, European Commission, European Parliament, Rule of Law, Political Legitimacy, Decision-Making, Subsidiarity, European Integration, Political System, Accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this essay?
The essay focuses on how the European Union functions, its legal and institutional structures, and whether it suffers from a democratic deficit.
What are the primary areas covered in this work?
It covers the history of integration, the roles of key institutions like the Commission and Parliament, the EU's values, and the complexity of its decision-making processes.
What is the main research question of the study?
The central question is whether criticisms of a "democratic deficit" in the EU are accurate and if there are viable ways to improve its democratic legitimacy.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author performs a descriptive and analytical review of political science literature, legal foundations, and institutional frameworks to objectively contribute to the debate on the "EU Project."
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the definitions of the EU, its institutional actors, the evolution of its treaties, and critical evaluations of its democratic accountability.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include European Union, democratic deficit, supranationalism, institutional structure, integration, and political legitimacy.
How does the author define the EU in terms of statehood?
The author classifies the EU as a unique political entity "sui generis," which is neither a traditional federal state nor a standard international organization.
What specific institutional problem does the author highlight?
The author highlights the "institutional democratic deficit," noting that the EU lacks a common European nation, a common public sphere, and that the Parliament has limited legislative power compared to national parliaments.
- Citar trabajo
- Ibrahim Bekmezci (Autor), 2022, Democratic legitimacy of the European Union (EU). Actors, legal-institutional structures and processes, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1181164
