EU Constitutional Standards of Democracy in Differentiated Integration

Abstract

Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced StudiesThe Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, created in 1992 and currently directed by Professor Brigid Laffan, aims to develop inter-disciplinary and comparative research on the major issues facing the process of European integration, European societies and Europe's place in 21st century global politics. The Centre is home to a large post-doctoral programme and hosts major research programmes, projects and data sets, in addition to a range of working groups and ad hoc initiatives. The research agenda is organised around a set of core themes and is continuously evolving, reflecting the changing agenda of European integration, the expanding membership of the European Union, developments in Europe's neighbourhood and the wider world.

Enhanced flexibility: Special regimes of closer cooperation in core state powers

“…The involvement of supranational institutions (including the European Parliament) is limited and so are the safeguards of the rights of non-participating Member States, such as the last resort requirement. 75 Finally, special regimes of closer cooperation should not threaten the 'mother' enhanced cooperation procedure. In fact, such procedures can only constitute exceptional cases, requiring adaptation of the 'rule' to specific core state powers policies.…”