Iceland voted for ”fax democracy”

In Iceland, as in Norway, solid majorities in opinion polls reject the representation ensured by EU membership, but tolerate the continuing practice of hollowed out democracy at the national level. Is it rational? Read Iceland voted for ”fax democracy”.

#MyEurope blogging – Part three

We continue the roundup of #MyEurope blogging and tweeting, originally activated to profile #EuropeDay citizens' perspectives during this European Year of Citizens 2013 - #eyc2013 – but the #MyEurope hashtag continues to draw forth tweets. What do these EU citizens have to tell? Read #MyEurope blogging – Part three.

#MyEurope blogging – Part two

Jakub Jermář on JakUB – Jakub's Universal Blog explained his interest for The Federalist in America following the 1787 Philadelphia Convention and how he stumbled across the European Federalist Papers. Read #MyEurope blogging – Part two.

Hollande's EU proposals in media

When president François Hollande decided to outline his next four years in office, I decided to look at his proposals for European reform in two stages. First I presented and commented on his introductory speech without referring to outside opinions. My assessment is critical, because Hollande's sketches were almost empty and they did little to enlighten citizens on substance. I wonder if this works as a communication exercise intended to enhance the stature of the president as a European statesman. In this second post I am going to check a number of newspaper articles and blog posts to see what others have found regarding European integration. As always, the rights of citizens – benchmark standards of democracy and fundamental rights – are my starting point. Read Hollande's EU proposals in media.

Empty phrases from the Elysée Palace

If France wants better outcomes, it needs to make its universal republican values a reality at the European level. Citizenship, democracy and human rights are the values and practices needed as foundations for sufficient and legitimate powers, the 'sine qua non' of tolerable outcomes in the eurozone and the wider European Union. Read Empty phrases from the Elysée Palace.

Democracy in Europe (19 May 2013): Citizenship, democracy, human rights

Citizenship, democracy and human rights are the 'sine qua non' of sufficient powers and tolerable outcomes in the eurozone and the wider European Union. You don't need to be a Hamilton to understand that in a more rational world this would lead to conclusions and solutions. In political Europe the official responses tend towards avoidance and denial. Therefore the main focus of this review is on other actors. Read Democracy in Europe (19 May 2013): Citizenship, democracy, human rights.

European Federalist Paper number six: Secession and EU referendum

It is easy to locate the articles in the series, because the blog entry about the European Federalist Paper number five offers links to the six earlier blog posts. You can follow @europafederatie (Leo Klinkers) on Twitter and the European Federalist Papers on Facebook. Read European Federalist Paper number six: Secession and EU referendum.

The real engine of European integration: Jon Worth

Forget the European Council, the Euro Summits, Eurogroup templates, EU referendum breakaways and Brexit, as well as the ”indispensable” Franco-German tandem cycling off in two different directions. The real engine of European integration is the untiring citizen-blogger Jon Worth, who at this stage has done more to animate the discussion about the European Parliament elections May 2014 than the Europarties, Eurofoundations and national governments put together. Read The real engine of European integration: Jon Worth.

Socialist and Green primaries for European elections 2014

After the latest post on Eurofoundations, Europarties and the public, we turn to the pre-election plans of two political parties at European level: the Party of European Socialists PES and the European Green Party EGP. Read Socialist and Green primaries for European elections 2014.

Eurofoundations, Europarties and the public

Earlier this week I tried to find signs that the Europarties, which met during the weekend, communicated openly with the public about their preparations for the elections to the European Parliament in May 2014. Now you can read Eurofoundations, Europarties and the public.

Mass desertion from European Union

The European Union of, by and for the heads of state or government and their governments is facing mass desertions. Naturally a trifling matter such as a democratic EU is not on the draft agenda of the May European Council (7623/13), the umpteenth EUCO summit during the prolonged financial and economic crisis. Read Mass desertion from European Union.

Value for money? Europarties prepare for European Parliament elections

With only a year and some days to go, the Europarties have started their warm-up exercises ahead of the campaigns for elections to the European Parliament in May 2014. Some of these Europarties, officially political parties at European level, were busy laying their campaign plans during the weekend. - How did these Europarties inform and interact with the public? Read Value for money? Europarties prepare for European Parliament elections.

France's republican values at European level

Alexis de Tocqueville, the author of De la démocratie en Amérique (Democracy in America), inspired the headline for these recurring if random observations about European democracy. Earlier columns can be found here, here, here and here. As an afterthought to the discussion about the declaration of unity and the campaign for a United States of Europe, initiated by Bernard Barthalay, I would like to add: France's republican values at European level.

European Federalist Paper number five: United States, federal or republic?

In this entry we pick up the thread of the European Federalist Papers I have presented and tried to discuss in a constructive but critical spirit. Read European Federalist Paper number five: United States, federal or republic?

#MyEurope blogging on #EuropeDay – Part one

In the spirit of the blog post Speak your mind on Europe Day, 9 May 2013 numerous of EU citizens seized the opportunity to tweet their expectations for the European Union using the traditional Bloggingportal.eu hashtag #MyEurope, in the spirit condensed by the OneEurope network: democracy, unity, diversity. Read #MyEurope blogging on #EuropeDay – Part one.