class 21

Question 1

today (democracy and legitimacy of the EU)

Answer 1

First time since 1999 no changes in 27 commissioners (Von der Leyen’s commission approval) but the smallest majority (54 voted yes, 41 no, and 36 abstentions)
Problematic news: The new European Commission has currently 145 currencies, which should become more important as an international actor. Is very expensive and should rather emphasized in more important countries

Question 2

What are the three things in conflict?

Answer 2

EU efficiency, legitimacy, and democracy

Question 3

what are the two types of legitimacy?

Answer 3

• input legitimacy is built on democracy
• output legitimacy is built on efficiency (based usually on results)

Question 4

what was the EU primarily based on?

Answer 4

built on output legitimacy (Monnet). Euro-skepticism is related to having more say, bringing eu closer to people, but also more efficient

Question 5

define implementation

Answer 5

putting into effect, if you’re not implementing, you’re not legitimate or efficient.

Question 6

explain direct implementation

Answer 6

Sometimes is the fault of the EU itself (commission)

Question 7

explain indirect implementation

Answer 7

EU member states are also responsible (sub national units in member states)

Question 8

regarding implementation, explain legally or formally

Answer 8

change laws, implement the EU’s law to bring consistency

Question 9

regarding implementation, explain practical

Answer 9

test, in compliance with new legislation

Question 10

how does the commission intervene when there is a lack of implementation?

Answer 10

(letter of formal notice to the country, then member states have a chance to respond to the first letter, commission sends another letter if not living up to it called reason of opinion letter with commission takes to the European Court of Justice)

Question 11

Is there an implementation deficit in the EU?

Answer 11

Yes, but who doesn’t. Even more important for the EU because it needs to be justified all the time since it’s a government above the nation-state.

Question 12

why does the EU need to be justified all the time since its a government above the nation-state?

Answer 12

→ top-down perspective (member states to blame): not serious/committed enough, love the single market and other stuff where they aren’t as committed.
→ bottom-up perspective (EU to blame): It is complicated to live up to all the implications (Euro-skeptics believe in this one) curved bananas, the size of sand grains in children’s playground

Question 13

define democracy

Answer 13

“government by the people”

Question 14

define a democratic deficit

Answer 14

the people aren’t ruling

Question 15

explain the democratic deficit from an institutional perspective

Answer 15

deparliematalization (eg. canada the parliament is sovereign) take power from the national to the EU level (challenging national democracies without adding some to the EU level)

Question 16

explain a democratic deficit from a socio-psychological perspective

Answer 16

means that there must be “EU people” as part of the identity? Have an EU demos? Maastricht treaty introduced EU people eg. Canada and Quebeckers

Question 17

what has the EU done in terms of democracy?

Answer 17

• more representative democracy (turn-out problematic) direct elections, promoting participation in elections
• more participatory democracy (make a more direct link without their governance)

Question 18

explain the European Citizen’s Initiative

Answer 18

Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2012, the European Citizens’ Initiative allows EU citizens to propose legislation to push on the commission with 1 million signatures from at least 7 member states within 12 months.

Question 19

what are the effects of the Europeans Citizen’s Initative

Answer 19

Since 2012, 90 initiatives have been launched, appealing to a wide range of people. While 25 met the 1-million-signature threshold, only 3 led to Commission action (e.g., banning toxic substances, water health). The initiative is non-binding, limited to EU competencies like human rights or foreign policy. Parliament’s full embrace remains uncertain.