Taking participatory democracy seriously: Exploring the content and implementation of an EU constitutional principle

In response to the longstanding debate over the EU democratic deficit, the Treaty of Lisbon introduced Article 11 TEU which enshrines the principle of participatory democracy in a way that complements representative democracy in the Union. More than fifteen years after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, many different participatory mechanisms have been put into practice, but their reach is limited and their function is criticized as problematic. Furthermore, the boundaries of participatory democracy in the EU remain ambiguous, giving rise to divergent views and uncertainty about its purpose. This raises the question: To what extent does Article 11 TEU facilitate the development of citizen participation in the EU?
This dissertation addresses this question by proposing a holistic interpretation of Article 11 TEU. Based on the text, context and purpose of the provision in its entirety, it clarifies the meaning of participatory democracy under the current EU constitutional framework and highlights the role of Article 11 TEU as a constitutional yardstick according to which all participatory opportunities should be structured and against which they need to be assessed. Against this benchmark, four key participatory mechanisms (European Citizens’ Initiative, consultations, lobbying and European Citizens’ Panels) are critically assessed to determine how EU institutions have implemented — or failed to implement — the obligations stemming from Article 11 TEU.