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.

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.

• Part I Institutions and decision
• making
• Alan Dashwood, Decision
• making in the European Union after Nice
• the legal framework
• Adrian Hyde
• Price, Decision
• making under the second pillar
• Jorg Monar, Decision
• making in the area of freedom, security and justice
• Peter Dyrberg, Legitimacy and accountability in the European Union, what is the contribution of the transparency debate?
• John Usher, Enhanced co
• operation or flexibility
• Anand Menon and Stephen Weatherill, Legitimacy, accountability and delegation in the European Union
• Laurence Gormley, The judicial architecture of the European Union after Nice
• Fabian Amtenbrink, On the legitimacy and accountability of the European Central Bank, legal arrangements and practical experiences
• Part II Constitutionalism and the future of Europe
• William Paterson, The German debate on the future of the European Union
• Sophie Boyron, Drafting a constitution for Europe
• a case of too many "borders"?
• Frank Vibert, The case for a Constitution
• Bruno de Witte and and Grainne de Burca, The delimitation of powers between the European Union and its Member States
• Nanette Neuwahl, Democracy in the European Union, procedures and principles
• Anthony Arnull, The rule of law in the European Union
• Part III
• Fundamental rights and social rights
• Jeremy McBride, Protecting fundamental rights in Europe
• a legal analysis
• Francis G
• Jacobs, The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the legitimacy and accountability of the European Union
• Evelyn Ellis, The principle of non
• discrimination after Nice
• Lothar Funk, Protecting fundamental rights and social rights
• an economic analysis
• Part IV New governance and the European Union
• Erika Szyszczak, Social policy in the post
• Nice era
• Ronald L
• Martin, EMU and regional economic convergence
• Andy Mullineux and Cillian Ryan, EMU and the Lisbon goals in an enlarged European Union
• Daniel Wincott, Rights, governance and the future of Europe
• Part V Enlargement and the movement of people
• Christophe Hillion, The enlargement of the Union
• a legal analysis
• Brigid Fowler, The enlargement process and the candidate States
• Julian Lonbay, The free movement of persons in the post
• Nice Union
• the legal framework
• Judy Batt
• Managing the EU's new external border
• Fiorella Dell'Olio, Immigration and asylum after Nice
• from "zero immigration policy" to the logic of market necessity

... will interest academics, students, policy makers, journalists and anyone concerned with the development of the European Union. KnowEurope