Political accountability is essential for a well-functioning European Union. How is this function exercised, and how can it be improved? These questions were discussed by experts at a webinar on 6 October 2021.
Accountability – the idea that actors should be answerable for their actions – is a crucial part of a democratic system. The EU has a complex, multi-level system of governance in which actors (the Commission, Member States, the European Parliament and others) are held responsible for their actions by the public, or by each other, and sometimes by both. Understanding and improving these political accountability mechanisms is essential for a well-functioning, democratic union. But how is the control of EU actors exercised in real life? What can citizens do to hold their representatives politically accountable for their decisions? When and why do the institutions object to each other’s decisions? Are the decisions always taken in forums that can be held politically responsible? Are the decisions sufficiently transparent to enable an adequate review of them? These are examples of issues that were discussed in a SIEPS webinar on 6 October.
During this webinar, Yannis Papadopoulos, professor of public policy at the University of Lausanne, presented his SIEPS report, Political accountability in EU multi-level governance: the glass half-full. The report offers a bird’s eye view of the status of accountability in the political system of the European Union, emphasizing its strengths and weaknesses. The presentation was followed by an expert panel discussion on the topic of the report and related issues.
