The Lisbon Treaty’s Provisions on Democratic Principles: A Legal Framework for Participatory Democracy

Abstract:
Even though the Lisbon Treaty avoids the constitutional foundation of the European Union, it contains the same strategies as the Constitution for Europe to strengthen its democratic legitimacy. This article explores the Lisbon Treaty’s ‘Provisions on Democratic Principles’ and, particularly, the strategies of democratization based on the participation of citizens and organized civil society in European governance. The article provides a legal analysis of the principles of participatory democracy and the rules governing civil dialogue, external consultations and citizens’ initiative.