Outline the Supposed "Democratic Ddeficit" in the EU and Asses Different Proposals to Overcome It

Recently there have been numerous discussions on the “democratic deficit” issue. Therefore, the essay’s discourse will be on “democratic deficit,” where it lies, and how to overcome it? Proposals and suggestions from several sources will be depicted and deliberated over.

European integration was initially launched by the ”Little Six” which agreed on the creation of the first Community of coal and steel cooperation. Thereafter, following the logic of path dependency, the European integration has deepened. During the past four decades from purely economic cooperation and to the name of the ”Four Freedoms” praising Single Market into a significant and multilayered actor which has political, social, legal and economical dimensions. The European Union (EU) includes currently 15 Member States (MS) and 10 new MS are joining officially on 1st May 2004. Hence, the EU already now and in near future having so big size, holds less homogeneity and greater heterogeneity, diversity and complexity with deeper integration process.

It has become generally accepted that the EU has problems in respect of democracy and accountability, and that there is “disconnection” between citizens and EU institutions. Symptoms include the result of the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty, protests during recent European Council meetings and the low turnout at the last European Parliament elections. The Inter-Governmental Conference in Nice in December 2000 acknowledged the need to improve and to monitor the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the Union and its institutions, in order to bring them closer to the citizens of the Member States.…