A Democratic Approach to EU Reform

The call for reforms has recently become louder again in view of structural problems in the European Union. The sluggish consensus-building between the member states and the call for more countries to join the EU make such reforms seem more urgent than ever. If the EU wants to be in a position to accept new member states by the end of the decade, it will have to tackle the necessary internal reforms in the coming legislative period. If it is unable to do so, it could soon be faced with political shambles and possibly become completely incapable of action. This policy paper makes some suggestions as to how reforms could be possible with and without treaty changes and how the EU can preserve its future viability.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation has invited experts to provide impetus for the EU reform debate in a number of policy areas. The result is a series of policy papers, some of which propose pragmatic approaches, others a change of direction. In their entirety, they are intended to improve the EU's capacity to act, as well as make it more democratic, ecological and socially just. Read the other papers here.