Powerful EU democracy needs powerful political parties

In this article written for EURACTIV, European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Press Officer Myriam Cornillet argues that the way forward for European democratisation will involve a greater politicisation of the European debate, with each European political party presenting a clear political direction to voters.

“The perceived democratic deficit” lies at the heart of the EU’s present crisis, Cornillet asserts, going on to claim  that “political patries, at national and European level, are crucial in representing the people and aggregrating interests and aspirations within society [and are] widely expected to contribute to the creation of a European public space”.

Even the Constitution itself, the rejection of which by France and the Netherlands plunged the EU into its present troubled waters, “states that the Union shall be based on the principle of representative democracy”, says Cornillet.      

To read the full report, please click here.