Overview

As the European Union undergoes a major, self-proclaimed democratic exercise the Conference on the Future of Europe and approaches Treaty change, this volume offers a new model of citizen participation to address Europe's long-standing democracy challenge, and respond to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed are a set of democratic innovations, ranging from citizens assemblies to regulatory gaming to citizens initiatives and lobbying, which are complementary, not antagonistic, to existing representative democracy across the European continent. These innovations are emerging bottom-up across the continent and getting traction at local, national and EU level in a new era powered by technology. This book brings together academics as well as practitioners to give a forward-looking, holistic view of the realities of EU citizen participation across the spectrum of participatory opportunities. They all converge in arguing that, after many years of proven experimentation, the EU must institutionalize supranational, participative and deliberative, democratic channels to complement representative democracy and each other, and ultimately improve the effectiveness of EU citizen participation. While this institutional approach will not magically treat the EU democratic malaise, it should make the system more intelligible, accessible, and ultimately responsive to citizen demand without necessarily undertaking Treaty reform. The attempt to harness citizen participation to help address the current EU crisis needs the type of multi-faceted approach presented in this book. One that recognises the potential of existing and new democratic mechanisms, and also, importantly, the links between different instruments of citizen participation to improve the overall quality of EU's democratic system

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9781910259993

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The authors note that the EU, in its original conception, was not designed as a democratic political entity. How to involve its citizens more closely in the working of the institutions is thus an inherently tough nut to crack. Even so, the abundance of suggestions in this book provides much food for thought. The authors' ideas can help policymakers bring about a healthier relationship between European institutions and EU citizens. -- European Council Library

Author Information

Alberto Alemanno is Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law and Regulation and HEC Paris. Alberto is also the scientific director of the EU Public Interest Law Clinic established by HEC Paris and New York University School of Law. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Risk Regulation, a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Consumer Policy, of the Revue du Droit de l'Union Européenne and is the founder of the Summer Academy in Global Food Law & Policy. James Organ is lecturer of law at the University of Liverpool, UK. James' research for his PhD focussed on the legal framework for citizen participation through instruments of direct democracy, particularly the European Citizens Initiative and UK referenda. James continues to work in the area of EU participatory democracy. James works extensively with civil society organisations in the area of participatory democracy, such as the ECI Association and Democracy International. He is currently leading an EACEA funded project to hold citizens assemblies on the future of EU democratic participation in four EU member states, and online deliberation through partnership with WeMove. The project concludes with a conference in Liverpool in December 2018. James is working as special adviser to the European Economic and Social Committee during the revision of the legislation relating to the European Citizens Initiative.

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