The EU and referenda: three denials of democracy

The Dutch “no” expressed on 6 April 2016 revived the myth claiming that “Brussels” is incapable of acknowledging the outcomes of national referenda, which supposedly highlight a democratic split between the EU and its citizens. According to our director Yves Bertoncini, this myth conveys a triple denial of democracy which requires a timely reaction in view of the approaching referenda in other Member States :

• The denial of European democracy: the outcomes of referenda on the EU are respected
• The denial of other national democracies: one people against all others
• The denial of representative democracies: the people rather than the elected representatives of the people