The Impact of Croatia Accession on the Structure and Decision-Making in the European Union
Dragoș IONIȚĂ
Abstract. The enlargement of the European Union (EU) has always been a topic of interest for specialists in International Relations. The study was focused (and still is) on the accession process (we include here the concern regarding the motivation of states to join the organization and the impact that EU integration has on the policies of those specific states). However, we find less concern regarding the impact of the accession of new states on the organization. The purpose of this study is to show the changes that Croatia’s accession bring to the institutional structure and decision-making process of the European Union, considering that the organization is currently going through a process of institutional reform, marked by the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.
Keywords: European Union, enlargement, institutional structure, decision-making process
The European Commission between Supranationalism and Intergovernmentalism
Alexandra DRĂGAN
Abstract. This paper aims to analyse the character of the European Commission, which gravitates between supranational and intergovernmental, by presenting the main arguments meant to support the aforementioned positions. Thus, in order to demonstrate the supranational character I used the arguments offered by the constitutive treaties concerning the Commission’s mission, functions and competencies. With regard to the intergovernmental perspective I made use of the link which is invariably established and perpetuated between member states and the commissioners appointed by them.
Keywords: European Commission, Supranationalism, Intergovernmentalism, European Parliament, Comitology, National Affiliation, Lisbon Treaty
The Democratic Deficit of the European Union – Myth or Reality?
Cristina-Lorelei TRIȘCĂ
Abstract. The debates surrounding the European Union’s democratic deficit aren’t recent al all. There are authors who claim the existence of a democratic deficit, as well as other authors who dismantle, one by one, the arguments of the first ones. Through this paper I want to inventory the arguments according to which the democratic deficit does or doesn’t exist. Finally, I will mention some of the proposals aimed at diminishing the democratic deficit.
Keywords: European Union, European Parliament, democratic deficit, dual legitimation, democratic responsibility, European elections
