The Democratic Dilemmas of Differentiated Integration: The Views of Political Party Actors

DI raises normative questions in regard to the equality among member states. To be perceived as democratic, DI must preserve political equality and respect the principle of non-domination. We explore whether party actors perceive DI as preserving equality between member states and what governance arrangements they consider might mitigate its dominating aspects. We find that while political party actors consider DI could support self-determination at the national level, they worried it could result in arbitrary exclusion and growing inequality at the EU level. They insist that to be non-dominating differentiated policies must remain open for all to join, be based on clear criteria. As regards the governance of DI, only participating states should be able to vote on differentiated policies in the Council, whereas all MEPs should vote on them in the Parliament.