The democratic deficit of the EU and the European political integration from a French perspective

Résumé du document

The European construction has always evolved through crisis and this is probably due to its ambitious project and nature. However, it worked successfully until today because it has been occurring through a “step by step process”, to quote the Schuman Declaration. This neo-functionalist method made possible the transformation of the European construction from a utopia to a concrete reality. It has thus played an indispensable and very positive role in the elaboration of what is now called the “European Union”. In the meanwhile, such a method —which implies to be patient— is frustrating for federalists and for all those who look forward to seeing a strong European polity emerging which would rely on a “European demos” and a real European political arena. The present situation of the EU is also irritating for them as it is the first economic power of the world but doesn't have the political voice corresponding to this economic weight in the international politics —except for commercial negotiations.

Extraits

[...] The critics about the “democratic deficit” of the EU seemed to be clearly taken into account by European leaders. Actually, the one and only goal of this Declaration was to identify the “democratic challenge facing Europe”. This declaration underlined the necessity to the European Institutions closer to its citizens to increase “democratic scrutiny”, to redefine EU missions as “many citizens feel that EU should involve itself more with their particular concerns” and to diminish the “threat [they feel] to their identity”[27]. [...]

[...] The evolutions presented ex ante justify the will of the French, the Dutch and the Spanish governments to hold referenda about the ECT. The French and the Dutch have to be taken into account by the European political leaders as it seems patent that referenda in countries that approved the ECT by parliamentary means may have face the same popular reject if they had held a referendum. It is thus interesting and useful to identify the reasons and the arguments which pushed a majority of Dutch and French citizens to reject the ECT. [...]

[...] Indeed, the deeper the economic and political integration goes, the stronger the political will required is. Thus, after the almost achieved liberalization of the European markets, the next steps imply difficult and decisive political decisions to be maid as they reach national strategic domains or prerogatives. Thus, if the integration process is to be continued, the functionalist method will prove to be insufficient and an increased involvement of citizens in the EU-decision making will be needed. Some eloquent examples are presently on the agenda of the European Union and provoke a strong political debate in France. [...]

[...] In their way of thinking, the European Union still suffers from a “political deficit”, as it doesn't have a strong enough political role. It also suffers from a “democratic” one, as they would like the European Parliament to benefit from more powers and the majority vote to be extended in all EU decision-making areas. For many of the opponents to the strengthening of the European political integration, the Treaty of Maastricht is an act of treason of national sovereignty and the “democratic deficit” of the European Union is also, in their mind, a deficit of “legitimacy”. [...]

[...] They all seemed to be insurmountable but finally proved to pave the way to a strengthening of the European political integration and to repeated enlargements thanks to the political will of “enlightened” politicians and experts. The EU is now clearly aware of its need to rely on an increased popular support and of the necessity to find new tools of governance putting citizens and the European Institutions closer. The principle of subsidiarity and the possibility for states to enter a “reinforced cooperation” are very interesting institutional means to achieve this goal. [...]