1. Can transnational parties solve the eu’s democratic crisis?

2. Here’s the plan What does the EU’s democratic crisis consist in?
What can transnational parties change?
What could that mean in practice?

3. 1. The eu’s democratic crisis
When we think about the EU’s democratic crisis, we think of…

4. 1. The eu’s democratic crisis
When we think about the EU’s democratic crisis, we think of…
Eurozone governance
ECJ jurisdiction
Electoral connection

5. 1. The eu’s democratic crisis
When we think about the EU’s democratic crisis, we think of…
Eurozone governance
ECJ jurisdiction
Electoral connection

6. 1. The eu’s democratic crisis
The EU has a ”dual electoral connection”
Intergovernmental: National elections
Mandating national governments for actions in Council
Supranational: European Parliament elections
Electing parties to the EP that represent one’s views re: the EU

7. 1. The eu’s democratic crisis
Supranational electoral link: European Parliament elections
Main problem: disconnect by design
EP elections are fought by national parties on national issues
The EP, however, is organised in transnational party groups
So we do not vote for the parties who rule!

8. 1. The eu’s democratic crisis
If we do not vote for the parties who rule, it is difficult to know what our vote can achieve.
How much impact does our preferred national party have in a transnational party group?
In voting coalitions in the EP, what will the impact be of the transnational party group of which our preferred national party is a member?
If the national campaing was on national issues put forward by national parties, what issues are decided in the EP by transnational parties?

9. 2. Transnational parties as solution?
If one could elect transnational party groups directly, these judgment problems would arise to a much smaller degree.
One EU-wide platform per party, rather than 28 campaigns around countless national issues. We get a better idea what parties will do in the EP.
Questions about impact are easier to answer, since national parties retreat. We get a better idea of what our vote could achieve.
In short: the EP would become a more thoroughly supranational parliament and the European political space would resemble national electoral arenas a bit more.

10. 2. Transnational parties as solution?
If one could elect transnational party groups directly, this could also have other democracy-enhancing side-effects.
EU-wide campaign on EU-wide platforms can stimulate EU-wide debate about policies concerning the EU as a whole.
It can strengthen supranational electoral connection without sacrificing intergovernmental electoral connection/national politics.

11. 3. Transnational parties in practice
Proposal 1
Using some of the remaining British seats to establish Pan-European electoral constituency
Proposal rejected by EP in February 2018, mainly due to EPP

12. 3. Transnational parties in practice
Proposal 1
Using some of the remaining British seats to establish Pan-European electoral constituency
Proposal rejected by EP in February 2018, mainly due to EPP

13. 3. Transnational parties in practice
Proposal 2
Creating transnational party from scratch with a single European manifesto
Examples: DiEM 25, Volt Europa

14. Wrap-up Electing transnational party groups in EP directly can:
Significantly reduce political complexity
Re-orient EP elections towards European topics
There are efforts to make it happen