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Research project

Democracy in lockdown: what role for the European parliament in the COVID-19 crisis?

This project analysed how the COVID-19 crisis had affected the principles of representation, deliberation and accountability in EU policy-making.

The COVID-19 crisis posed a particular problem for parliamentary democracy: how to uphold democratic principles if parliamentarians cannot meet? Internally, assemblies needed to adapt suddenly to digitalisation and remote participation; externally, the crisis disrupted legislative processes and the capacity to shape policy. This was especially noticeable for the European Union (EU), where crises often lead to a competition for leadership between executive and legislative powers.

This project asked how the COVID-19 crisis had affected the principles of representation, deliberation and accountability in EU policy-making. It initiated a debate about how the European Parliament can tailor EU priorities; help re-focus on European rather than national crisis-solving mechanisms; and use the new digital environment to maximise its voice(s).

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