The contributors to this book examine the issues of constitutional choice that face the governments and citizens of today's Europe. Divided into three sections this study addresses: questions of political legitimacy and the meaning of democratic deficit in the EU; the reality of what institutional reforms and decision making processes are possible; and the rights of citizenship and values that should be protected.

Contents:
List of Figures List of Abbreviations List of Contributors Preface 1. Introduction Michael Nentwich and Albert Weale Part 1: Political Legitimacy and the Democratic Deficit 2. Legitimacy and the European Union David Beetham and Christopher Lord 3. Democracy, Legitimacy and Majority Rule in the European Union Andreas Follesdal 4. Between Representation and Constitutionalism in the European Union Albert Weale 5. Defending the Democratic Deficit Sverker Gustavsson
art 2: Decision Rules and the Constitutional Construction of the European Union 6. The European Union: Trends in Theory and Reform Michael J. Tsinisizelis and Dimitris N. Chryssochoou 7. Legitimacy Dilemmas of Supranational Governance: The European Commission between Accountability and Independence Thomas Christiansen 8. How to Democratize a Multi-Level, Multi-Dimensional Polity Heidrun Abromeit 9. Opportunity Structures for Citizens' Participation: The Case of the European Union Richard Kuper 11. European Union Citizenship as a Model of Citizenship beyond the Nation-State: Possibilities and Limits Theodora Kostakopoulou 12. European Union Citizenship and Supranational Democracy Clara Closa 13. Environmental Protection in a Liberal Democratic Europe: Constitutional Aspects Marcel Wissenburg