Brussels, 08/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - There seems to be one observation that is shared by everyone: the EU's democratic deficit is a fact, despite the institutional reforms carried out over a number of years. What is the consequence of all this? Citizens' trust in the European institutions continues to decline. The EU inspires the confidence of only 34% of Europeans (according to a Eurobarometer survey in December 2011). The link between the EU's democratic deficit and European citizens' lack of trust, as well as the way in which this challenge needs to be addressed, was the subject of broad discussion during the conference entitled “Democracy in Europe: Where Are We? Civil Society's Point of View”, organised on Tuesday 8 May by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).
Professor Lars Tragardh, from the University of Ersta Skondal in Stockholm, said the European democratic deficit could partly be rectified through reform of the EU institutions and how they operate. Giving the example of the subsidiarity principle, he sought to demonstrate that the perception of distance between citizens and the centre of decision-making is a crucial challenge. It is a “fundamental obstacle” facing European institutions because the place where political decisions are made, particularly with regard to the current economic approach adopted, appears to be disconnected from citizens - hence a feeling of distrust is created. This distance has reached a certain fever pitch, according to the vice president of the European Parliament, Isabelle Durant (Belgium, Greens/EFA). She considers that the situation is exacerbated by a European arrogance at the EU institutions, which live within a “religion” that they themselves have created.
What are the practical responses that can be introduced to rectify this situation? Those who spoke at the conference demonstrated the differences of opinions. Jean-Marc Roirant, the president of the European Civic Forum (FCE), said that they should not confuse the democratic deficit and decision-making process, and they should therefore introduce a limit to citizens' direct participation in the life of the EU institutions. Durant, however, appealed for an approach that was radically opposed to the former. In addition to the proposals for making the European Commission more accountable to the Parliament and creating transnational lists during European elections, she said that she was in favour of citizens' direct participation, without any intermediary, through the new tools that exist, such as social network sites. She also explained that new multi-level governance was needed. Conny Reuter, the president of the European social sector NGO platform, said that he wanted to demonstrate the benefits of “intermediary bodies”, which could alone, he thought, explain the complexity of European affairs. (JK/transl.fl)