A cure for the EU's legitimacy deficit?
Janis A. Emmanouilidis
BEPA Monthly Brief
Brussels 02/2011
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The Lisbon Treaty seeks to enhance democratic scrutiny at all levels by strengthening the European Parliament, involving national parliaments, and empowering citizens through the introduction of the Citizens' Initiative. In this paper, Janis A. Emmanouilidis analyses the major innovations and asks whether the reforms laid down in the Lisbon Treaty will cure the EU’s legitimacy deficit. In the end, the author argues that boosting the Union’s 'input legitimacy' is important but does not suffice to bridge the existing gap between the EU and its citizens. The European Union will ultimately be judged on the output it generates, and Member States bear the main responsibility for making the 'new EU' capable of providing the kind of returns which may convince citizens of its added value.
The paper can be downloaded from Commission's website here.
Reference
Janis A. Emmanouilidis, A cure for the EU's legitimacy deficit?, Bepa Monthly Brief, issue 44, February 2011, pp. 3-6