Book contents
- Trilogues
- Cambridge Studies in European Law and Policy
- Trilogues
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Series Editors’ Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Table of Cases
- Introduction
- 1 A Historical Reconstruction
- 2 Setting the Stage
- 3 Unpacking the Law and Practice of Trilogues
- 4 Trilogues
- 5 Interchamber Coordination in a Comparative Perspective
- 6 Trilogues and European Democracy
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Index
- Series page
6 - Trilogues and European Democracy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 January 2025
- Trilogues
- Cambridge Studies in European Law and Policy
- Trilogues
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Series Editors’ Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Table of Cases
- Introduction
- 1 A Historical Reconstruction
- 2 Setting the Stage
- 3 Unpacking the Law and Practice of Trilogues
- 4 Trilogues
- 5 Interchamber Coordination in a Comparative Perspective
- 6 Trilogues and European Democracy
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Index
- Series page
Summary
Finally, Chapter 6 reads the main findings about trilogues in the light of the democratic principles set out in the Treaties. In particular, the chapter argues that trilogues offer an important democratic contribution because they put compromise at the very heart of the European legislative process. Compromise, through its practice of mutual concessions, is arguably the best means to approximate two constitutional requirements: equality and representation – or, better put, the aspiration to democratic equality in a system of representative institutions. Furthermore, the chapter argues that the existence and prevalence of trilogues reveal the EU’s structural closeness to those polities that belong to the model of “negotiation democracy.” This model was developed by Gerhard Lehmbruch with special reference to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The chapter argues that Lehmbruch’s model provides a fruitful basis for comparative research and a solid foundation for understanding the EU.
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- TriloguesThe Democratic Secret of European Legislation, pp. 166 - 200Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025