Debating Over European Union's Future: Re-Politicization and Back to Direct Democracy?

Abstract

The article analyzes the recommendations of the Van den Brande report titled: Reaching Out to EU Citizens: A New Opportunity: 'About us, with us, for us' (published October 2017) in light of three previous policy statements by the EU Commission: the Five Presidents Report (2015), the White Paper on the Future of Europe and the State of the Union Address (2017). It tries to assess whether the sequence of these policy statements and VdB report reflect a chronological EU shift from 'de-politicization' to 're-politicization', whether VdB report reflects and innovative approach towards this challenge compared to these previous statements and whether acting according to it, particularly with regard to intensifying the direct dialogue with EU citizens, may improve the democratic nature of the public discourse and of the decision-making processes regarding EU's future.

Keywords: EU, Democratic Deficit, Direct Democracy, De-Politicization, Re-Politicization

JEL Classification: K33, F15