Representative democracy is beset by a crisis of legitimacy across the world, but in Europe this crisis is compounded by the inadequacy of national governments to address citizens’ frustrations and to achieve transnational unity on common issues. How representative are national parliaments in their decision-making on EU matters? In this volume 20 renowned think tanks from the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN) including the Austrian Society for European Politics (ÖGfE) investigate the relationship between the democratic institutions of the member states and those of the EU.

The final report of our project "Anti EU-rhetoric versus own national interests? National populism and its reception in Central Europe“ highlights the main results of our surveys, depicts some of the citizens’ views and finally draws conclusions and policy recommendations on how to tackle the challenges ahead in order to contribute to a constructive European debate based on common values and mutual understanding instead of a pure national view that in the end leads to divisiveness and the loss of long-term achievements of the European integration process.

The book "Direct Democracy in the EU: The Myth of a Citizens’ Union" is part of the 'Towards a Citizens’ Union' project and is the product of collaboration with 20 renowned think tanks from the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN) including the Austrian Society for European Politics (ÖGfE). It is the first of three publications that will also cover the state of representative democracy in the EU and the accountability of democratic institutions.

The first volume of the book series "The Future of Europe: views from the Capitals" sheds light on the political dynamics within the EU member states and contributes to the discussions about Europe.