European integration has been built on the promise of democracy. Not only should the Member States be founded on democratic principles, but the Union itself should extend these principles to the supranational level, thereby fostering democratic relations between the Member States and their citizens. While the European Union prides itself on the democratic character of its Member States and has adopted many institutional reforms to this end, deep divides persist between the different Member States. The Promise of EU Democracy: Reconnecting European Citizens? brings together legal scholars, political scientists, and historians to offer a comprehensive assessment of the EU's capacity to forge democracy across borders. It identifies where this potential remains unfulfilled and explores key policy domains, including migration, trade, fiscal and macroeconomic governance, and the Covid-19 pandemic, to evaluate how far the Union has moved towards, or away from, its democratic aspirations Thought-provoking and timely, this volume offers a new conceptual angle to understand the EU's democratic project. In an era of growing contestation both within and outside the Union, this book offers a compelling reflection on the relevance and resilience of democracy in Europe today.
By analysing developments in the foundations of the EU, in its main institutions, and in selected policy domains, this volume offers a comprehensive assessment of the EU and its capacity to forge democracy across borders, while identifying the areas where this potential remains unfulfilled.
