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EU's Democratic Deficit: A Citizen's Perspective

Analysis of the lack of citizen involvement in EU decision-making processes, highlighting the disproportionate representation within the new European Commission.

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French

France

ElectionsEuropean UnionFranceDemocracyGovernanceEu PoliticsRepresentation

European UnionEuropean CouncilEuropean ParliamentEuropean People's PartyRenew Europe

Ursula Von Der Leyen

What is the main issue highlighted by the lack of response to citizen proposals?: Despite a polite response from the European Council, these proposals largely went unanswered. This highlights a significant issue within the European Union: the disconnect between the EU's democratic structures and the perception of citizen participation and transparency.
How does the composition of the next European Commission impact citizen engagement?: The composition of the next European Commission, leaning further to the right, is unlikely to improve citizen engagement. The distribution of portfolios within the Commission does not reflect the proportional representation of the supporting parties in the European Parliament.
What are the concerns raised about the democratic legitimacy of the EU's decision-making processes?: The lack of proportionality in the distribution of Commission portfolios raises concerns about the democratic legitimacy of the EU's decision-making processes. This situation might further alienate citizens who feel their voice is not being heard adequately within the European Union.
What were the main proposals submitted by citizens to the EU in 2022 regarding the future of Europe?: In 2022, citizens submitted around 50 proposals to the EU regarding the future of Europe, emphasizing the need for greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes. These proposals included suggestions for transnational elections, European referendums, and increased influence on the selection of the European Commission.
How does the distribution of portfolios in the Commission reflect the proportional representation of the supporting parties?: Social Democrats will have a historically small number of commissioners, while Renew Europe, despite fewer MEPs, will have more portfolios than expected. The European People's Party holds significantly more power within the commission, including the presidency.

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