What is Democracy?

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

(aka North Korea)

German Democratic Republic

(aka East Germany)

We know they're not democratic because we know what a democratic country looks like

What is the EU?

With what can we compare the EU?

Not a Federal State

Not just a regional organisation

Hybrid!

What is the EU?

Political Union of 6 9 10 12 15 25 27 28 27? 30? 32? 33? 34? states

Accession process: not a straight forward process

• from 4 (SE) to 14 years (MT, CY)
• some rejected (MA, ES) or vetoed (UK)
• Ongoing:
  • negotiating: TR (29y), RS (7y), ME (8y)
  • candidate: MK (12y), AL (7y)
  • applicant: BA (0y)

Leaving process: very easy and time-defined (2 years)

What is the EU?

• Single Market: Free movement of people, goods, services and capital
  • + IS, LI, NO, CH
• No border controls - Schengen Area 
  • opt-outs: UK and IE
  • BG, HR, CY and RO in process of joining
  • + IS, LI, NO, CH, MC, SM, VA)
  • temporary controls allowed
• One currency - the €uro
  • ​opt-outs: DK, UK

EU institutions

• Court of Justice of the EU - chief judicial authority
• European Central Bank - central bank for the €
• Court of Auditors - audits finances of the EU

• European Parliament
• European Council
• Council of the EU
• European Commission

The Political Institutions

European Commission

the government

EU executive power

28 members (including 1 President)

European Parliament

the lower house of parliament

represents 500M European citizens

751 members

The Political Institutions

European Council

gives political direction and priorities

28 national leaders (PMs/Presidents)

Council of the EU

upper house of parliament

represents national governments

28 seats in 10 configurations

Legitimacy

European

Parliament

directly elected

by citizens

European

Council

elected by citizens or national parliaments

Council

of the EU

elected by national parliaments

European

Commission

elected by Parliament and European Council

• it has legitimacy

• it's not non-democratic

can it be more democratic?

Spitzenkandidaten

How civil society democratized Europe

2007 - 2014 - ongoing

Schengen Watch

Making sure our rights are protected

Border checks are not allowed

But still happen