yqwkyt-peterson-eu-chapter-7-democracy-in-the-eu

Chapter 7: Democracy Beyond the State?

7.1 Economic and Environmental Interdependence

• National authorities are often insufficient to address growing economic, environmental, and other problems due to interdependence.

• Many issues require international cooperation, but traditional methods are often slow, cumbersome, and lack transparency.

• International negotiations usually involve consensus, leading to weak agreements.

7.2 International Organizations and Democracy

• Organizations like the WTO, IMF, and UN operate with methods that may undermine democratic processes.

• Decisions are often presented to national parliaments as take-it-or-leave-it propositions.

• EU's structure is considered different due to its elected Parliament, which directly represents citizens.

7.3 The EU's Democratic Characteristics

• The EU has:

  • An elected Parliament representing citizens directly.

  • An independent executive (European Commission) accountable to Parliament.

  • A common Court ensuring uniform interpretation of agreements.

  • Mechanisms for involving national parliaments and respecting fundamental rights.

7.4 Implications of EU Decision-Making on National Democracies

• Decisions made at the EU level constrain choices available to national democracies.

• The relationship between national and EU democratic procedures continues to be debated.

• Some argue that the EU’s diversity in national democratic systems complicates measurement of its democracy.

  • Calls for a shared community or 'demos' for democracy to function effectively.

  • However, defining a demos based on common language or history is criticized.

7.5 EU Treaties and Democratic Framework

• The EU treaties lay out competencies, institutional powers, and election/appointment procedures.

• Scholars describe these treaties as a de facto constitution.

• Failed attempts to formalize a constitution highlight concerns about state-like federation vs. a democratic union.

7.6 Role of National Parliaments

• The involvement of national parliaments in European matters is a unique feature of the EU.

• The Lisbon Treaty introduced mechanisms that allow national parliaments to review legislative proposals.

• Introduced procedures include 'yellow card' and 'orange card' for subsidiarity checks.

7.7 Representation and Always Complex Accountability

• Questions arise on the adequacy of representation in the European Parliament (EP) due to disparities among member states.

• The EP has advanced from a consultative body to one with significant legislative powers.

• The democratic choice of the executive is obscured as the European Commission members are nominated by member states.

7.8 Challenges in the Democratic System

• Legislative initiation rights are limited within the EU compared to national contexts.

• Lower electoral turnout in EP elections raises further questions about democratic legitimacy.

• Representation issues are tied to the relationship between the Council (governments) and the EP.

7.9 Political Parties and the Nature of EU Democracy

• Political parties play a crucial role in representing various interests in the EU.

• Development of pan-European political parties is seen as necessary for establishing a more interconnected democratic system.

• Parties require funding and must meet specific criteria to participate effectively.

7.10 Conclusion

• While the EU possesses significant democratic structures, complexities often obscure its visibility and effectiveness.

• The EU continues to evolve, seeking balance between national sovereignty and the ambitions of collective democracy.