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The Puzzle of Transparency Reforms in the Council of the EU

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  • Daniel Naurin

    (PluriCourts, University of Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

I argue that the transparency reforms that have been implemented in the Council of the EU in the last decades are unlikely to change the perception of the Council as a non-transparent institution. My argument is based on three distinctions: the distinction between transparency (availability of information) and publicity (spread and reception of information); between transparency in process and transparency in rationale; and between plenary and committee decision-making arenas in legislatures. While national parliaments tend to have all these features, the Council of the EU only has two (transparency in process and committee decision-making). As a consequence, publishing ever more documents and detailed minutes of committee meetings is unlikely to strengthen the descriptive legitimacy of the Council. Furthermore, I argue that the democratic transparency problem is the reverse of what is most often argued: It is not the lack of transparency that causes a democratic deficit, but the (perceived) lack of a democratic infrastructure that makes more serious transparency reforms unthinkable to government representatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Naurin, 2017. "The Puzzle of Transparency Reforms in the Council of the EU," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(3), pages 87-90.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:5:y:2017:i:3:p:87-90
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vigjilenca Abazi & Johan Adriaensen, 2017. "Allies in Transparency? Parliamentary, Judicial and Administrative Interplays in the EU’s International Negotiations," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(3), pages 75-86.
    2. Maarten Hillebrandt, 2017. "Transparency as a Platform for Institutional Politics: The Case of the Council of the European Union," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(3), pages 62-74.
    3. Niels Gheyle & Ferdi De Ville, 2017. "How Much Is Enough? Explaining the Continuous Transparency Conflict in TTIP," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(3), pages 16-28.
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    Cited by:

    1. Damien Pennetreau & Thomas Laloux, 2021. "Talkin’ ‘bout a Negotiation: (Un)Transparent Rapporteurs’ Speeches in the European Parliament," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 248-260.
    2. Vigjilenca Abazi & Johan Adriaensen, 2017. "EU Institutional Politics of Secrecy and Transparency in Foreign Affairs," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(3), pages 1-5.

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