venerdì 24 gennaio 2014

Two Conceptions of Democracy in the Council of the EU: Narrow and Broad


Maarten Zbigniew Hillebrandt 


Amsterdam Centre for European Law and Governance

January 17, 2014

Amsterdam Law School Research Paper No. 2014-02
Amsterdam Centre for European Law and Governance Research Paper No. 2014-01 

Abstract:      
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.
Number of Pages in PDF File: 39

Keywords: democracy, transparency, Council of the EU, democratic theory

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