Promovendus: Mw. Dr. H.-T. Nguyen

Promotor: Prof.em. A.W. Heringa

Duur: 1/8/2013 - 31/7/2017

Promotie: Maastricht, 25/5/2018

Abstract:

The term two-speed Europe Europe refers to a European Union in which two different groups of Member States proceed further in integration at two different speeds. With the signing of the Fiscal Compact Treaty in March 2012, the EU is faster than ever racing towards a two-speed Europe with the Euro area as the core group, to the exclusion of the non-Euro countries. Such a development raises many questions concerning the democratic legitimacy of the EU and the role of the European Parliament therein. How should the EP, as the representative organ of the people, be used in a Europe in which there are two different sets of decisions? Should decisions concerning the Eurozone be voted upon by the entire Parliament or only by those members coming from a Eurozone country? How would such an approach be compatible with the fact that MEPs have European mandate and not a national one? On the other hand, how could a situation be justified in which legislative proposals concerning the core group are rejected by MEPs coming from non-participating Member States? The purpose of this project is two-fold. First, it will re-examine the democratic legitimacy of the European Union with a focus on the role of the European Parliament there within. Secondly, it will seek to find the ideal parliamentary model which would be the most suitable in overcoming these issues and in reinforcing the democratic legitimacy in a two-speed EU.