International law of democracy and the constitutional future of the EU: contributions and expectations

As an international actor the European Union has been a prominent contributor to the recent growth of democracy as a principle of international law. The EU's contribution has come in a number of ways in its relations with current Member States, future members and other states around the world. While the EU has been active in expecting democracy out of others it has not necessarily lived up to the same sort of principles in its own activities. The future of the EU is currently being subjected to intense debate and the issue of democracy is a major theme. This paper suggests that the principles and practices supported by the international law of democracy will act as useful points of reference as the EU undergoes the current constitutional changes. The future of the EU, and the continual development of the international law of democracy, will very much depend upon the EU beginning to practice what it has been preaching to others.

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