ABSTRACT
Direct democracy is often perceived as being a very important issue in the current stage of Europe’s integration process. In particular, in recent years it can be noted that there is increasing support for the idea of using referendums for European topics. 1 In fact, in the public’s opinion such mechanisms could be used to overcome problems relating to a democratic defi cit that has characterized the European experience until now (2015). In this sense, the importance of the ballots launched for the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TEC) of 2004 or for the Lisbon Treaty is often underlined. Indeed, these votes have been seen as a reaffi rming moment for the sovereignty of the people of the European Union. In the same way, nearly all reports have stated that the most recent referendum held in Greece on the approval of the ‘troika’ proposal on economic reforms was important proof of democracy. Last but not least, the current debate on the referendum on the future of the UK’s European membership focuses on the right of the people to express their willingness to remain part of a form of union that is very far from the one that was voted on in the ballot of 1975.
