October 02, 2023
A Sovereign European Union Must Answer to the People
Recent events have exposed two key weaknesses of the European Union. First, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine illustrated the bloc’s dependence on countries outside of it in strategic areas such as energy and defense, prompting calls for greater “European sovereignty.” Second, the “Qatargate” influence-buying scandal and subsequent failure to make sufficient reforms laid bare the deficit of accountability in EU institutions, where decision-makers have scant requirements to faithfully represent the interests of citizens.
Insufficient action to address its accountability deficit undermines the European Union’s Westphalian sovereignty and, consequently, its domestic sovereignty.
Although these defects may seem unrelated, they are in fact inextricably linked. Until the European Union’s representation problems are fixed, the bloc is unlikely to succeed in bolstering its sovereignty—as citizens will push back against Brussels’s perceived illegitimate power grabs. With European Parliament elections around the corner in 2024 and a more treacherous geopolitical environment highlighted by the war in Ukraine, waiting for this inevitable backlash is not an option.
Read the full article from Lawfare.
More from CNAS
-
A Night of NATO at the National Archives
Just a few weeks ago, leaders from across the globe gathered in Washington, D.C. for the historic 75th NATO summit. Over the course of the three-day event, allies engaged in d...
By Jim Townsend & Andrea Kendall-Taylor
-
75 Years of NATO: Key Takeaways from the Washington Summit
Last week, Washington, DC hosted the NATO summit – marking the historic 75th anniversary of the alliance. Despite the significant milestone, the mood was serious in DC with th...
By Jim Townsend & Kate Johnston
-
Air defence package for Ukraine could work alongside F-16s to halt Putin's attacks
Jim Townsend joins Frontline on Times Radio to discuss how further U.S. air defense systems for Ukraine and Nato drills will be key to sending a message that Nato is committed...
By Jim Townsend
-
Sharper: NATO Summit
The 75th NATO Summit was held in Washington DC, last week, and brought together leaders and governments to discuss pressing issues facing the world's oldest alliance. A bridge...
By Anna Pederson