ABSTRACT
The debate on the democratic legitimacy of European integration and the need to politicize European issues seems dominated by two views. Some argue that the clear and unified articulation of policy preferences of national governments, efficient and fair bargaining on common policies, and the smooth and effective implementation of agreements ultimately rely on the relative autonomy of national elites and a modicum of depoliticization of the governmental project for European unity. National elites lead by gaining a mandate in national elections and meetings of national parliaments. Any reform of European institutions would need to strengthen the representative role of government leaders at some distance from parliaments, political associations and news media. The issue of weak European legitimacy stems from the lack of attention among national voters. Truly representative leaders secure the compliance of national constituencies by generating a minimum of engagement and not gambling away the trust of unconcerned citizens. With the help of their networks of diplomats, civil servants, lobbyists and experts, they will achieve and maintain popular support for the delegation of power to European authorities, cooperation among nation states and multilevel public administration (Blondel, Sinnott and Svensson 1998; Majone 1996, 1998; Milward 2000; Moravcsik 1998, 2004, 2005; Scharpf 1999; Slaughter 2004; Menon 2008).
