More Union, More Democracy for Europe
Ian Buruma, Bard College | December 13, 2011
It is not the premise of the EU that is flawed; the current crisis is a political one. ++ Even in sovereign states, resentment builds towards “weaker” regions perceived to be getting a free ride, but institutions are strong enough to combat it. ++ In the absence of those institutions, national leaders “moralize” and play countries against one another, stoking up old nationalist ghosts. ++ In order to overcome this, the EU needs more directly democratic institutions to engage a European electorate and strengthen the legitimacy of the EU system.
