The Interpretative Moment of European Journalism:
The Impact of Newspaper Opinion Making in the Ratification Process'
Hans-Jörg Trenz, Guri Rosén and Maximilian Conrad

Abstract: This paper investigates the role of political journalism in EU constitution-making. More specifically, the authors ask whether political journalists take an active role in shaping public preferences and opinion on European integration. An analytical framework is developed distinguishing between the critical and the representative function of media opinion-making. Journalists are found to interfere with the democratization of the EU either as a critical watchdog controlling and advising political decision-makers, or as a collective voice representing long-term expectations and public dispositions in the debate. This research framework is applied to the analysis of newspaper commentaries in the ratification period of the EU Constitutional Treaty (November 2004 to June 2005). The ratification process is analyzed as a critical juncture of European integration in which enhanced debates and politicization are expected in all member states.

Measuring Europeanisation of Public Communication:
The Question of Standards'
Hans-Jörg Trenz

Abstract: The emergence of a pan-European public sphere as a correlate of democratic governance in the EU is held to be difficult, if not impossible. This has shifted the research agenda to the Europeanisation of public and media communication. The 'European public sphere light' is observed by measuring different degrees of Europeanisation of existing national media spheres. In applied research however, the notion of 'Europeanisation' remains often very fuzzy and contested. The new agenda of 'Europeanisation' has so far been mainly applied as a pragmatic research strategy. As such, it still lacks theoretical grounding and methodological coherence. For this purpose, the article raises the question of standards. Following a proposal of Johan P. Olsen, a distinction is made between the what, how and why of Europeanisation. This regards first of all the necessity to set diagnostic standards for designating the different phenomena of what is changing. Second, methodological standards must be set, which indicate how to measure the Europeanisation of public and media communication. Finally, public sphere research must critically address the question of evaluative standards to determine why Europeanisation takes place and when it can be considered to be a sufficient indicator for assessing a public sphere of a new quality.

'The European Democratic Challenge'
Agustín José Menéndez

Abstract: This paper explores in a systematic manner the different components of the democratic legitimacy of the Union from the standpoint of deliberative democratic theory. Contrary to standard accounts, the author claim that the question must be disaggregated, given that the Union has not only several democratic deficits, but also some democratic surpluses. On the one hand, the Union was created to tackle the democratic deficit of nation-states, and has been partially successful in mending the mismatch between the scope of application of their legal systems and the geographical reach of the consequences of legal decisions. Moreover, the European legal order is based on a synthetic constitutional law, which reflects the common constitutional traditions of the member states, which lend democratic legitimacy to the whole European legal order. On the other hand, the lack of a democratically written and ratified constitution is a central part of the democratic challenge of the Union. But equally important is the structural bias in favour of certain material legal results, which stems from the interplay of the division of competences between the Union and its member states and the plurality of law-making procedures, some of which multiply veto points at the cost of rendering decision-making rather improbable. Special attention is paid through the paper to the democratic implications of the structural features of European constitutional law for new member states.

'Theoretical Models of Fiscal Policies in the Euroland:
The Lisbon Strategy, Macroeconomic Stability and the Dilemma of Governance with Governments'
Stefan Collignon

Abstract: Due to collective action problems, the Eurozone is stuck in a sub-optimal macro-policy mix of too expansionary fiscal policy and too restrictive monetary policy. Although the Lisbon Strategy pays lip service to macro-economic policy coordination, no mechanisms, institutions or effective rules are established in order to overcome the collective action problem. Empirically, the failure is demonstrated by comparing the Eurozone policy mix with the US policy mix and attributing it to the low investment performance which resulted in low average GDP growth and low average productivity growth – contrary to the aims of the Lisbon Strategy to make the EU the world’s most dynamic economy. The paper also argues that in order to overcome these difficulties, a proper government for the European Union is needed. More delegation to the European level is only legitimate if European citizens can exert their democratic rights.

'Enlargement in Perspective:
The EU's Quest for Identity'
Helene Sjursen

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to shed light on the identity problem of the European Union (EU). In order to do so the EU’s justifications of past and present enlargements are investigated. What kind of understanding of the EU do decisions to enlarge speak to? Given that the EU is based on more than pragmatic problem-solving, the question is whether decisions to enlarge reflect a value-based or rather a rights-based polity. Although a certain sense of distinctiveness, certain elements of European particularities, are in evidence, the pull of universal principles has so far turned out to be stronger.

The RECON Online Working Paper series is available at:
http://www.reconproject.eu/projectweb/portalproject/RECONWorkingPapers.html