The Role of the European Societies in the EU Deepening Process

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: European Union, Bilkent University , course: European Society and Culture (Political Science and Public Administration 330), language: English, abstract: One of the important components of the sui-generis character of the European Union is that it is not only an association of member states, but citizens are also recognized as direct parties to the Union. The dual character of the Union, which unites both states and citizens, has a direct effect on the nature of the EU and the decision-making process. Participation, as a key part of the notion of citizenship, is a way to be involved in the ratification process of EU related treaties, and it allows European societies to vote in the referendum regarding declare an opinion about certain issues on behalf of their own country. In 2005 the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was rejected as a result of the referenda in the Netherlands and France. The Treaty of Lisbon was rejected in Ireland in 2008. The term paper is basically a discussion on the role of the European societies in the EU deepening process by considering the reasons of 'no' votes.