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Does Banking Union Worsen the EU's Democratic Deficit? The Need for Greater Supervisory Data Transparency
Does banking union exacerbate the European Union's democratic deficit? Using Scharpf's 'input' and 'output' legitimacy concepts, it is argued in this article that its design does worsen the democratic deficit. There are good reasons to limit 'input legitimacy' for politically independent institutions. 'Output legitimacy' is then even more relevant. Transparency is a key part of 'output legitimacy'. It enables actors to judge whether the regulator is acting in the public's interest and can improve their outputs. This article focuses on the banking data that the supervisors collect. Data available to the European public is evaluated and compared to America's banking union. European practices are not comparable in terms of availability or detail. An original survey of relevant officials is conducted, which results in the finding that only 11 of 28 Member States release any information on the banks they supervise. Both EU and national supervisors should provide publicly available, timely and consistent individual bank data
Economic and Social Conflicts, Integration and Constitutionalism in Contemporary Europe
Two Conceptions of Democracy in the Council of the EU: Narrow and Broad
Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the Council is explicitly understood as a democratic actor in a decision-making system that is legitimated on the basis of a democratic rationale. While this formalisation in the Lisbon Treaty of the Council as a democratic actor is to be welcomed as an important step in a longer-standing process, it remains unclear which normative requirements result from it. This point is illustrated in this paper with reference to the principle of transparency. It discerns the role of transparency in two competing conceptions at the Council level, representing a narrow, and a broad perspective on democracy. It is argued that below a minimal threshold of transparency, Council democracy cannot function. Above this threshold, in turn, transparency is likely to make Council democracy function better
Legitimacy intermediation in the multilevel European polity and its collapse in the euro crisis
This essay re-examines the dual â republican and liberal â foundations of democratic legitimacy in the Western traditions of normative political theory. Considered in isolation, the European Union conforms to liberal standards but cannot satisfy republican criteria. Given these conflicting standards, debates on the alleged European democratic deficit have remained inconclusive. Moreover, they have failed to pay sufficient attention to the multilevel character of the European polity and to the normative potential of legitimacy intermediation in its two-step compliance and legitimating relationships. I argue, however, that the capacity of democratic member states to legitimate the exercise of European governing functions is being destroyed in the present euro crisis, and I briefly discuss the implications of this new constellation.In der westlichen Tradition der normativen politischen Theorie beruht demokratische LegitimitĂ€t auf der doppelten Grundlage republikanischer und liberaler Prinzipien. FĂŒr sich betrachtet entspricht die EuropĂ€ische Union zwar liberalen Kriterien, aber eben nicht den republikanischen Anforderungen. Angesichts so unterschiedlicher Kriterien konnte es auch im Streit ĂŒber das angebliche europĂ€ische Demokratiedefizit keine Einigung geben. Ăberdies ignorierte diese Diskussion den Mehrebenen-Charakter der europĂ€ischen Politik und das normative Potenzial der Legitimationsvermittlung zwischen Union und BĂŒrgern durch die demokratisch verfassten Mitgliedstaaten. Die gegenwĂ€rtige Eurokrise allerdings zerstört die FĂ€higkeit demokratischer Mitgliedstaaten, die AusĂŒbung europĂ€ischer Herrschaftsfunktionen zu legitimieren. Der Aufsatz erörtert die Implikationen dieser neuen Konstellation.1 Introduction 2 Legitimacy discourses The republican discourse The liberal discourse Differences 3 Constitutional democracies â and the European Union? 4 Legitimacy intermediation in the multilevel European polity 5 The end of legitimacy intermediation in the euro crisis Monetary Union and the failure of output legitimacy Rescuing the euro through supranational intervention 6 Legitimate supranational government? Input-oriented European legitimacy? 7 Reducing the burden on European legitimacy Reference
Why There is a Democratic Deficit in the EU: A Response to Majone and Moravcsik
In a series of recent papers, Giandomenico Majone and Andrew Moravcsik have âraised the barâ in the debate over the so-called âdemocratic deficitâ in the European Union. These two influential scholars both contend that much of the existing analysis is flawed and that the EU is as democratic as it could, and even should, be. We accept many of Moravcsikâs and Majoneâs arguments. However, we disagree about one key element: that a democratic polity requires contestation for political leadership and argument over the direction of the policy agenda. This aspect, which is ultimately the difference between a democracy and an enlightened form of authoritarianism, is an essential element of even the âthinnestâ theories of democracy, yet is conspicuously weak in the EU.democracy; European elections; legitimacy; non-majoritarian institutions; normative political theory; political parties; public opinion; Constitution for Europe; agenda-setting
A Step Closer to a Transnational Party System? Competition and Coherence in the 2009 and 2014 European Parliament
European Affiliations or National Interests? Analyses of Voting Patterns on Trade Policy in European Parliament
Why There is a Democratic Deficit in the EU: A Response to Majone and Moravcsik
Giandomenico Majone and Andrew Moravcsik have argued that the EU does not suffer a 'democratic deficit'. We disagree about one key element: whether a democratic polity requires contestation for political leadership and over policy. This aspect is an essential element of even the 'thinnest' theories of democracy, yet is conspicuously absent in the EU. Copyright 2006 The Author(s).