The Solution to the 'Democratic Deficit': A New Type of Governance for the European Union?

Journal of European Integration, Vol. 2, p. 131, 2003

43 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2006

See all articles by Laurent Pech

Laurent Pech

UCD Sutherland School of Law; CEU Democracy Institute

Abstract

Without radically upsetting the institutional and political balance of the European Union, the Commission's White Paper on Governance (2001) proposes a new basis for the EU's institutional legitimacy. However, this conceptual re-foundation gives rise to new and fundamental questions. To speak of governance within democracy is indeed unthinkable unless "democracy" is redefined as a form of government where the legitimacy of public action (as well as its efficiency) is made possible by a "proceduralization" of law. The failure to promote legitimacy with concepts borrowed from the vocabulary of the nation-state is nevertheless puzzling: Should "participatory democracy" be considered a substitute for representative democracy? Even if this is not the case, it is uncertain whether "participatory democracy" sufficiently embodies the democratic ideal, at least at the European level.

Note: Downloadable document is in French.

Keywords: Democracy, European Union, Governance, Legitimacy, Proceduralization of Law

Suggested Citation

Pech, Laurent, The Solution to the 'Democratic Deficit': A New Type of Governance for the European Union?. Journal of European Integration, Vol. 2, p. 131, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=930915

Laurent Pech (Contact Author)

UCD Sutherland School of Law ( email )

Belfield
Dublin 4
Ireland

CEU Democracy Institute

Nador u. 13
Budapest
Hungary

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