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Civil society participation in EU governance

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  • Heidbreder, Eva G.

Abstract

For the longest time, the participation of civil society has not been an area of interest for neither EU researchers nor political decision-makers. This changed with a rising interest in the democratic credentials of the European Union. With the end of the initial permissive consensus on EU integration, civil society emerged as a possible remedy to bridge the gap between supranational governance and citizens. This Living Review presents the two dominant analytical perspectives on civil society participation: the notion of civil society as organized actors that contribute actively to multilevel governance, and civil society as the mold for an emerging European public sphere. Both these conceptual views are reflected in hands-on initiatives on the EU level. On the one hand, the European Commission in particular promotes the inclusion of organized societal interests in the informal decision-making procedures. On the other hand, various forms of deliberative practices have been introduced that build on the encompassing notion of constituting a trans-European public sphere. The review offers a comprehensive overview on the multiple definitions of civil society and the distinct role attributions these coexisting conceptions imply. The contribution draws a number of critical conclusions on the actual outcomes that the active promotion of civil society participation has thus achieved, and questions whether civil society participation has indeed led to a more grounded legitimacy of EU decisions or a more settled European public sphere. Full online version available at http://www.livingreviews.org/lreg-2012-2

Suggested Citation

  • Heidbreder, Eva G., . "Civil society participation in EU governance," Living Reviews in European Governance (LREG), Institute for European integration research (EIF).
    • Handle: RePEc:erp:lregxx:p0022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Magnette, 2001. "European Governance and Civic Participation: Can the European Union be politicised?," Jean Monnet Working Papers 9, Jean Monnet Chair.
    2. Paul Magnette, 2003. "European Governance and Civic Participation: Beyond Elitist Citizenship?," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 51(1), pages 144-160, March.
    3. Greenwood, Justin, 2007. "Organized Civil Society and Democratic Legitimacy in the European Union," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 37(2), pages 333-357, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wodschow, Astrid & Nathan, Iben & Cerutti, Paolo, 2016. "Participation, public policy-making, and legitimacy in the EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement process: The Cameroon case," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Andrei MORARU, 2016. "European Union Democratic Governance: A Case Study Of The European Citizens’ Initiative," Europolity – Continuity and Change in European Governance - New Series, Department of International Relations and European Integration, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 10(2), pages 1-31.
    3. Acar Kutay, 2017. "How Does the European Commission Create a European Civil Society with Words? A Discourse Theoretical Inquiry," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(5), pages 1094-1109, September.

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