The concept of european citizenship in the european union and a common view on the problem of democracy deficit

Abstract

This study addresses the question of democratic legitimacy between the European Union and the member states and a general assessment is made on the causes and dimensions of this problem of democracy deficit. The phenomenon of European citizenship emerged in the 1970s as a part and tool of the process of creating European identity. European citizenship is different from nation-state citizenship in classical meaning. The problem of democratic legitimacy is approached from an institutional and social perspective. Debate over the existence of European People's support for integration process and the size of sovereignty between the country's constitutions and the founding treaties of the European Union; It has brought debate about which European people and countries would prefer, and caused great disagreements. “The European Union represents both the greatest hope and the greatest threat to 21st century European democracy”.