Markus Thiel

European Public Spheres and the EU's Communication Strategy: From Deficits to Policy Fit?

Abstract The European Union (EU) currently faces various political challenges surrounding questions of the Unions self-understanding with regards to processes of enlargement and self-definition. This paper analyses the newly created communication strategy devised by the European Union Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication and contrasts the mismatch between theoretical concepts of trans-national communication in the social sciences on the one hand and the problematic nature of the EUs communicative approach relating to the national public spheres on the other. I argue that while some theorists propagate idealistic-normative expectations rather than empirically based policy recommendations, the Commission has begun to listen to academics and politicians who rightfully call for more transparency and interaction with media outlets on a national level. Based on an analysis of the communication and information deficits between the Unions institutions, the national governments and the mass media, I supply suggestions as to how the Union could improve its communication policy.

European Civil Society and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency: Creating Legitimacy through Civil Society Inclusion?

Abstract With the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union (EU) now possesses advanced human rights institutions such as the binding Charter of Fundamental Rights and a Fundamental Rights Agency. The rights agency, created as an institutional enhancement providing rights assessments to the EU and member states while conducting dialogue with civil society organizations, aims at safeguarding and promoting the rights of residents in the Union. Based on interview and survey data, this article analyzes the degree of input- and output-legitimacy of the EU’s participatory rights regime, with a particular focus on the agency’s interaction with civil society. It is argued that while such cooperation optimizes human rights attainment in a transnational manner, it is simultaneously being constrained by its embeddedness in the agency, which in turn has to mitigate demands by member states, the EU institutions and the claims of CSOs.

Understanding Diversity In The European Integration Project

European integration efforts have long envisioned the creation of unity out of diversity. The preamble to the Treaty of Rome famously set out the determination of the signatories “to establish the foundations of an ever closer union among the European peoples.” The creation of unity has entailed the building of common policies, but increasingly also of a com- mon culture and identity. Thus, since the end of the Cold War, moves to create a European market also have become attempts to construct a European society, and efforts toward unity have been accompanied by a new valuing of diversity. Since the 1990s, mobilizations against the ratification of various treaties have raised sensitivity among politicians toward the opinions of diverse interest groups in the European Union (EU) and have led politicians to address a perceived “democratic deficit” in European decision-making processes. In addition, the enlargement of the Union to 27 member states gave rise to unprecedented societal and political diversity and new demands for rights and recognition.

European Civil Society and ‘Participatory’ Governance Tools: The Impact of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and Platform

Using the case of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and its civil society platform, Chap. 5 analyzes the effects of both stakeholders on input-legitimacy (the ability of civil society to contribute) and, on the other hand, output-legitimacy (rights-maintenance in the EU). Thiel argues that while both kinds of legitimacy should be pursued simultaneously, in reality output-legitimacy is much harder to achieve, given the diverse claims of civil society and the obstructing influence of member states. Thus, while the Agency and platforms are contributing to participatory input in governance in the human rights area, the overall output of rights provisions is less impressive.

Institutional Instruments for Citizen Involvement and Participation: Their Impact on the EU’s Political Processes and Institutional Legitimacy

The first part of the chapter analyzes the evolution of enshrining the political rights of Europeans, mentioning also the main policy measures adopted in order to involve citizens in EU governance and finally paying special attention to relevant legal and political tools given to citizens and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to participate in the political life of the European Union. The second part evaluates the impact of these tools on policy-makers and citizens. Based on the actual implementation record thus far, the authors’ evaluation of these measures for an increase of legitimacy of the Union is quite mixed.

Theorizing Diversity in the European Union

Classical European integration theories provide us with limited knowledge about the interaction of diverse minority groups with and within the European Union (EU), as they tend to be teleologically wedded to the furthering of unity by way of integration. In contrast, as pointed out in our introduction, research programs exploring multilevel politics, identity, and citizenship can provide insight into understanding diversity in the EU. In this conclusion, we discuss the findings of our contribu- tors in light of these research agendas and point to some areas worthy of further analysis.