Introduction

This chapter concentrates on current political trends, the dynamics of the broader public discussion about European integration and the need to reframe the discussion about European democracy. It develops the concept of a Res Publica Europaea, shifting the discussion away from the notion of a 'United States of Europe' towards the concept of a European Republic, based on Ulrich Beck's statement that if states are given the ultimate authority about the integration process, the European project cannot succeed. Post-crisis European integration seems to be in a deadlock. This is mainly due precisely to the perception of the European Union (EU) as not democratic or social by an increasing number of citizens and so public dissatisfaction is growing. The current problem of European democracy and the current populism going against a technocratic Europe refers obviously to the difficult task of thinking and creating a common European public and media sphere, which is however critical for every political community.