Democracy in an ever closer Union – the challenge of integrating Power and Politics

The European Union stands in better shape at the start of 2014 than many feared or expected. The single currency has survived, the Single Supervisory Mechanism is on track, with the ECB poised to take on supervisory duties, and the Banking Union progresses. The economy is starting to recover, and later this year a new and more democratically powerful European Parliament will be elected. Despite all these positives, however, the European Project has reached a critical stage. As integration progresses, an increasing number of decisions will involve real sharing of financial resources, and this poses challenges of fiscal governance and democratic accountability at the Union level that cannot much longer be left unaddressed. In this lunchtime seminar, John Nugée, an independent commentator on European affairs and former Bank of England official, will set out his assessment of the state of play and some thoughts on how Europe should meet the challenge of ensuring its democracy remains equal to its administrative ambitions.

Speakers

• John Nugée, Independent Consultant
• Discussant - Pierre Wunsch, Board Member of the National Bank of Belgium
• Chair - Guntram Wolff, Director of Bruegel

Event materials

Presentation by John Nugée Download

Discussion by Pierre Wunsch Download

Event summary Download

Practical details

• Venue: Bruegel, Rue de la Charité 33, 1210 Brussels
• Time: Thursday 23 January 2013, 12:45 - 14:30 (lunch will be served at 12.45 before the event begins at 13:00)
• Contact:Matilda Sevón, Events Coordinator - matilda.sevon[at]bruegel.org