DISINFO: The European Union is not a democratic institution
SUMMARY
The European Union is not a democratic institution. Its leaders claim to be the most democratic, the greatest protectors of human rights, but this is not true.
The people elect the European Parliament in highly flawed elections. [...] the Parliament only has limited powers to veto, dismiss or approve the European Commission. [...]
The Commission acts autonomously, without any democratic accountability or consultation with the people. This European Commission is a true Titanic. For the good of Europe, it should sink now, before it causes even more damage.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about a supposedly undemocratic EU.
The European Union is a democratic block. The EU’s democratic essence is guaranteed through several means, including political representatives at the European Parliament being elected by citizens through direct voting at the European elections, the existence of several institutions and bodies that ensure a full separation of powers, and the establishment of mechanisms for popular legislation through the European Citizens Initiative.
The allegation that elections for the European Parliament are rigged is baseless and not backed by any evidence.
The European Commission is the EU's executive arm. Commissioners are first appointed by EU member states and then, as candidates, take part in hearings in the European Parliament. MEPs, who are elected by EU citizens directly, can reject a candidate and have exercised this power in the past. As for the President of the European Commission, the candidacy needs to be agreed by the European Council, which is formed by democratically elected leaders of every member state. The European Commission as a whole is subject to a vote of consent by the European Parliament and its members are then appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority. In the whole process of appointing new EU leaders, the results of the European elections have to be taken into account.
Claims that there is little veto or removal power for European Commission figures are unsubstantiated, as these measures are clearly stated in EU regulation including motions of censure at the European Parliament and other mechanisms. The European Commission cannot unilaterally adopt legislative initiatives, as these must be approved by the European Parliament and Council.
All EU countries except one are considered free and democratic by Freedom House and The Economist’s Global Democracy Index. In contrast, Russia is considered one of the least free countries in the world, scoring 12 out of 100 in the Freedom House index and in position 150 out of 167 in The Economist’s GDI. This is the reason why pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives strongly attack democracy and the EU as a viable model to Russia’s increasingly autocratic and totalitarian system.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the European Union is a democratic dictatorship, that European citizens have no say in European Council and Commission appointments, or that the EU is not a democratic entity, it is NATO’s political arm.