ABSTRACT
One of the questions which will be brought to a head by Britain's entry is how to begin to shift it from technocracy towards democracy. The European federalists of the traditional school believe that they have a ready means to hand for solving both problems, that of democratic legitimacy and of more efficient decision-making, at once. Indeed, the habit of parallel legislation by the national parliaments of Europe could turn out to be an exceptionally powerful agent of European integration. It was indeed part of the federalist doctrine of the early stages of the Community that these two conditions had to be met if Europe's foundations were to be secure; and this particular doctrine is still very much alive in Brussels. That brings the argument back to the issue of democratic legitimacy and the need to strengthen the visible links between what happens at the European centre and public opinion in the member countries.
