AbstractRECONwp0707

The paper is about a counterfactual empirical assumption: If the Laeken convention had been elected, we would have had a more democratic as well as a more legitimate process of European constitution making. Electing conventioneers and re-opening the convention is probably a successful way to gain a real constitutional moment and to lead the EU out of its current legitimacy-trap. An elected convention would probably be more democratic, because such an institution would be more public as well as more accountable to the people, without significant expectable deliberative losses. And effective citizen involvement at an early stage can also be expected to be a cure for the failures connected to the late politicization during Dutch and French referenda.

Accountability – Constitution for Europe – Deliberative Democracy – Democracy – Election – European Convention – Legitimacy – Publicity – Referendum

RECON Online Working Paper 2007/07