ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the analytical framework to study synergies and legitimacy clashes when parliamentary representation meets citizen participation in the European Union (EU). Departing from a discussion of the EU as a multi-level system of representative democracy, we revisit the challenges to parliamentary representation in the EU and the “participatory” and “citizen turn” as potential remedies aimed at curing the ills of representative democracy. Our main argument is that the optimal democratic mix in the context of EU multi-level governance requires not only well-functioning channels of representative and participatory democracy, but their genuine (re-)connection. Against this background, we conceive of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) as an opportunity structure for parliaments and parties to re-engage with citizens, improve their communication, harness transnational expertise, and further their legitimacy vis-à-vis their electorates in the transnational context. While we conceptualise the EP as the “host” of the process, and national (regional) parliaments as the “guests”, we also view parliamentary actors as political entrepreneurs who may use the opportunity structure to advance their interests.
