Scanning for argument: the argument was relatively well signalled by the introduction and the headings. What is the main argument? The following has been divided into proposition and evidence supporting it. Many readers do not differentiate the two which is a major error and leads to confusion and misunderstanding. A proposition is a statement being put forward as a point in argument construction. It can be given strength by evidence supporting it. • Proposition 1, para 2: The Maastricht Treaty was not the remarkable diplomatic achievement it was claimed to be. Evidence: street reaction apathetic, confused, hostile, fearful: (i) Danes voted against it; (ii) French approved it marginally (1%); (iii) commentators at the time said that if there had been greater scrutiny in Great Britain and Germany the outcome would have been uncertain; (iv) even those supporting it were just plain greedy. • Proposition 2, para 3: There was a ‘growing disillusionment with the European construct as a whole’. • Proposition 3, para 3: The ‘moral and political legitimacy’ of the European construct is in decline. Evidence: There is ‘a sense of disempowerment of the European citizen’ which has many roots, but three stand out: (i) democratic deficit; (ii) remoteness; (iii) competencies of union. • Conclusion: a package of three proposals (a limited ballot by citizens concerning legislation; internet access to European decision making; establishment of a constitutional council), taken from research, initiated by the European Parliament, can make a real difference to increase the power of the European citizen without creating a political drama. The argument as set out in the introduction (in paras 1–3) The Maastricht Treaty was not the diplomatic achievement it was claimed to be. The European citizen continues to be disempowered. There remains a growing disillusionment with the European construct as a whole which is suffering from a decline in its moral and political legitimacy. However, a package of three proposals (a limited ballot by citizens concerning legislation; internet access to European decision making; establishment of a constitutional council), taken from research, initiated by the European Parliament, can make a real difference to increase the power of the European citizen without creating a political drama.

DOI link for Scanning for argument: the argument was relatively well signalled by the introduction and the headings. What is the main argument? The following has been divided into proposition and evidence supporting it. Many readers do not differentiate the two which is a major error and leads to confusion and misunderstanding. A proposition is a statement being put forward as a point in argument construction. It can be given strength by evidence supporting it. • Proposition 1, para 2: The Maastricht Treaty was not the remarkable diplomatic achievement it was claimed to be. Evidence: street reaction apathetic, confused, hostile, fearful: (i) Danes voted against it; (ii) French approved it marginally (1%); (iii) commentators at the time said that if there had been greater scrutiny in Great Britain and Germany the outcome would have been uncertain; (iv) even those supporting it were just plain greedy. • Proposition 2, para 3: There was a ‘growing disillusionment with the European construct as a whole’. • Proposition 3, para 3: The ‘moral and political legitimacy’ of the European construct is in decline. Evidence: There is ‘a sense of disempowerment of the European citizen’ which has many roots, but three stand out: (i) democratic deficit; (ii) remoteness; (iii) competencies of union. • Conclusion: a package of three proposals (a limited ballot by citizens concerning legislation; internet access to European decision making; establishment of a constitutional council), taken from research, initiated by the European Parliament, can make a real difference to increase the power of the European citizen without creating a political drama. The argument as set out in the introduction (in paras 1–3) The Maastricht Treaty was not the diplomatic achievement it was claimed to be. The European citizen continues to be disempowered. There remains a growing disillusionment with the European construct as a whole which is suffering from a decline in its moral and political legitimacy. However, a package of three proposals (a limited ballot by citizens concerning legislation; internet access to European decision making; establishment of a constitutional council), taken from research, initiated by the European Parliament, can make a real difference to increase the power of the European citizen without creating a political drama.

Scanning for argument: the argument was relatively well signalled by the introduction and the headings. What is the main argument? The following has been divided into proposition and evidence supporting it. Many readers do not differentiate the two which is a major error and leads to confusion and misunderstanding. A proposition is a statement being put forward as a point in argument construction. It can be given strength by evidence supporting it. • Proposition 1, para 2: The Maastricht Treaty was not the remarkable diplomatic achievement it was claimed to be. Evidence: street reaction apathetic, confused, hostile, fearful: (i) Danes voted against it; (ii) French approved it marginally (1%); (iii) commentators at the time said that if there had been greater scrutiny in Great Britain and Germany the outcome would have been uncertain; (iv) even those supporting it were just plain greedy. • Proposition 2, para 3: There was a ‘growing disillusionment with the European construct as a whole’. • Proposition 3, para 3: The ‘moral and political legitimacy’ of the European construct is in decline. Evidence: There is ‘a sense of disempowerment of the European citizen’ which has many roots, but three stand out: (i) democratic deficit; (ii) remoteness; (iii) competencies of union. • Conclusion: a package of three proposals (a limited ballot by citizens concerning legislation; internet access to European decision making; establishment of a constitutional council), taken from research, initiated by the European Parliament, can make a real difference to increase the power of the European citizen without creating a political drama. The argument as set out in the introduction (in paras 1–3) The Maastricht Treaty was not the diplomatic achievement it was claimed to be. The European citizen continues to be disempowered. There remains a growing disillusionment with the European construct as a whole which is suffering from a decline in its moral and political legitimacy. However, a package of three proposals (a limited ballot by citizens concerning legislation; internet access to European decision making; establishment of a constitutional council), taken from research, initiated by the European Parliament, can make a real difference to increase the power of the European citizen without creating a political drama.