Panel “Democracy, Citizens and Europe” of the conference of DebatEU

Despite the efforts of the EU and national institutions, as well as intermediary actors, studies and surveys indicate a growing gap between the so-called “EU elites” and EU citizens. The EU faces a legitimacy problem; support rates dropped during the financial crisis, and despite the improving economic situation, votes for populist, extremist, anti-EU, and anti-democratic parties and movements are rising across the EU. At the same time, the Europeanization of politics and decision-making continues to influence and alter the national democratic systems of member states.

• 1) Claudia Wiesner (Fulda): Re-thinking Politicization. Towards a mulit-level and multi-stage concept”
• 2) Cécille Robert (Sciences-Po Grenoble): Depoliticization at the EU levels. From the depoliticization of public action to its effects on citizens
• 3) Virginie van Ingeldom (UC Louvain): Citizens´ attitudes and reactions towards Europpean integration