An invaluable exploration of the concern that transfers of power to European Union institutions are producing a worrying new form of democratic deficit.

While ongoing reforms of these institutions promise to render decision processes at European level more transparent and accountable, these expert authors examine whether there is a European public sphere for citizens and their representatives to discuss, deliberate and evaluate issues of public relevance. They show how the process of European integration has given rise to a new object of study - European society, and why key...