Objective
RECONNECT starts from the observation that the European Union (EU) and the Member States are confronted with an existential crisis of the entire European project. As a result of several successive crises an increasingly large share of the population perceives the EU as an undemocratic and unjust political system. Overall trust in institutions at both Union and Member State levels is waning, while ever louder calls for a repatriation of powers to the national level are shaking the EU to its core. Against this background, our underlying assumption is that the deeply diverse and pluralistic Union of today needs to be more firmly rooted in justice and solidarity in order to be sustainable. Our working hypothesis is that European governance can regain authority and legitimacy through democracy and the rule of law, provided citizens’ aspirations and preferences are duly taken into account. This will allow for a renewed trust and recognition of the EU as a policy-provider that acts with a view to genuinely establishing a “society in which … justice [and] solidarity … prevail”, as Art. 2 TEU requires. With a unique multidisciplinary consortium of researchers, we analyse the existential challenges to the EU’s authority and legitimacy, through a comprehensive examination of principles, practices, and perceptions of democracy and the rule of law in the EU. Our end-user approach enables us to point to how democratic and rule of law principles and practices of institutions resonate with the actual aspirations, perceptions and preferences of citizens. Our ultimate objective is to contribute to a new comprehensive narrative for Europe that “reconnects” European governance with citizens. By means of an effective impact and dissemination strategy and through tailor-made policy recommendations and proposals for Treaty changes, RECONNECT will strengthen the EU’s normative foundations.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.6. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Europe In A Changing World - Inclusive, Innovative And Reflective Societies Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.6.1.2. - Trusted organisations, practices, services and policies that are necessary to build resilient, inclusive, participatory, open and creative societies in Europe, in particular taking into account migration, integration and demographic change
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium
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Participants (17)
NW4 4BT London
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7491 Trondheim
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28006 Madrid
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WC1B 5JP London
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1051 Budapest
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116 36 Praha 1
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9712CP Groningen
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59016 Lille Cedex
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48149 Muenster
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4610101 Herzliya
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1010 Wien
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1081 HV Amsterdam
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
00198 Roma
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80309 Gdansk
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00014 Helsingin Yliopisto
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CB2 1TN Cambridge
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20500 Abo
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