The European Union's growing accountability deficit threatens to undermine its legitimacy; accordingly, member states have agreed to negotiate a new set of Treaty changes in 2004. These essays consider various aspects of accountability and legitimacy in the European Union.

The European Union's growing accountability deficit threatens to undermine its legitimacy. This was acknowledged by the Member States in Nice in February 2001. Recognising the need to improve 'the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the Union and its institutions', they agreed to launch a debate on the Union's future. At Laeken in December 2001, the Member States decided that the debate should be carried forward in a Convention comprising the main parties involved. The debate will start to crystallise in 2004, when negotiations on a new set of Treaty changes will begin. The outcome of those negotiations will profoundly affect the constitutional and political health of the Union as it confronts enlargement to the east and south and the challenges of the 21st century. However, the Union's accountability and legitimacy deficit is so deep-seated that it is unlikely to be eradicated completely by the changes agreed. The issue will therefore remain high on the political agenda for the foreseeable future. The contributors to this interdisciplinary collection of essays consider various aspects of accountability and legitimacy in the European Union. How open should the Union's decision-making be? What is the right balance between accountability and efficiency? Does the Union now need a formal constitution? How can respect for democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law in the Union best be ensured? These are just some of the questions explored in this book. It will be of interest to anyone concerned with the future of Europe, from students and academics to policy-makers, and journalists

• FOREWORD BY THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, MEMBER, EUROPEAN COMMISSION
• LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
• Introduction
• PART I
• INSTITUTIONS AND DECISION
• MAKING
• Issues of Decision
• making in the European Union after Nice
• Decision
• making under the Second Pillar
• Decision
• Making in the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice
• Accountability and Legitimacy
• What is the Contribution of Transparency?
• Enhanced Cooperation or Flexibility in the Post
• Nice Era
• Legitimacy, Accountability, and Delegation in the European Union
• The Judicial Architecture of the European Union after Nice
• On the Legitimacy and Democratic Accountability of the European Central Bank
• Legal Arrangements and Practical Experiences
• PART II
• CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE FUTURE OF EUROPE
• The case for a Constitution for the Union
• Drafting a Constitution for Europe
• a Case of Too Many "Borders"?
• The Delimitation of Powers Between the EU and its Member States
• The EU and Democracy
• Lawful and Legitimate Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States?
• The Rule of Law in the European Union
• PART III
• FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL RIGHTS
• Protecting Fundamental Rights in Europe
• a Legal Analysis
• The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
• The Principle of Non
• Discrimination in the Post
• Nice Era
• Protecting Fundamental Rights and Social Rights
• An Economic Analysis
• PART IV
• NEW GOVERNANCE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
• Social Policy in the Post
• Nice Era
• EMU and Enlargement
• Twin Threats to European Regional Cohesion?
• EMU and the Lisbon Goals in an Enlarged European Union
• The Governance White Paper, the Commission, and the Search for Legitimacy
• PART V
• ENLARGEMENT AND THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
• The Enlargement of the European Union
• A Legal Analysis
• Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU Enlargement
• Political Perspectives from the Candidate States
• Free Movement of Persons in the European Union
• The Legal Framework
• Managing the EU's New External Border
• Immigration after Nice
• From 'Zero Immigration' to Market Necessity
• CONCLUDING REMARKS
• National States, European Union, and Changing Dynamics in the Quest for Legitimacy
• SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX

this volume surely provides the best guide to the EU's post-Nice legal structure and to the problems of dealing with accountability and legitimacy ... it will be a worthy addition to the bookshelves of EU scholars Richard Whitaker, Journal of Common Market Studies ... will interest academics, students, policy makers, journalists and anyone concerned with the development of the European Union. KnowEurope