The Eurozone crisis and the legitimacy of differentiated integration

Beukers, The Eurozone crisis and the legitimacy of differentiated integration


 Abstract:
This paper examines and critically discusses several new forms of differentiated integration developed in reaction to the Eurozone crisis, including the so-called Two-Pack of economic governance, the ESM Treaty and the Fiscal Compact. A number of elements from these instruments will be discussed that best illustrate the challenges of the most recent forms of further integration in the light of legitimacy. A theoretical framework for the concept of legitimacy is used that builds on the assumptions that legitimacy is provided through legality and that parliaments contribute to the legitimacy of political projects as an important element of so-called ‘input legitimacy’. The paper illustrates some of the opportunities, challenges and risks of the recent forms of differentiated integration. It is argued that in the absence of an increased legitimacy of democratic politics at the level of the European Union, the most important legitimacy source remains at the level of national democracy and parliaments. Therefore, the importance of national legitimacy moments should not be underestimated. Moreover, they should not be avoided.

Full text available at: http://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/29057