Booth, S. (2014) “The European Parliament is a failed experiment in pan-European democracy – national parliaments are the key to solving the democratic deficit“, LSE EUROPP, 21 May.
Strengthening the European Parliament has often been viewed as the best method of addressing the EU’s alleged ‘democratic deficit’. Stephen Booth writes that while this perspective has led to the Parliament’s powers being increased successively over recent decades, the effect of these reforms on democratic engagement among EU citizens has been limited. He argues that boosting the role of national parliaments in the EU legislative process would offer a far better route for returning democratic accountability closer to voters.
This week millions of Europeans will cast their vote in the European Parliament elections. The likelihood is that far more will not bother to do so. Many individual MEPs work hard and conscientiously for their constituents. In addition, the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy – and there are other examples too – shows that the parliament can work constructively with national governments. However, despite its ever-increasing powers and the attempts to foster pan-European politics through party groups and foundations, the European Parliament has failed to capture the public imagination.
Relevant posts:
- Véron, N. (2014) “How unequal is the European Parliament’s representation?“, Bruegel Think Tank, 16 May.
- Piedrafita, S. (2013) “Elections to the European Parliament and the trouble with vox populi“, European Policy Institutes Network, No.22, 22 August.
- Puntscher, S., Wydraa, D. (2013) “Representation in the European State of Emergency: Parliaments against Governments?“, Journal of European Integration, Vol. 35, Issue 5, pp. 565-582.