Individual and Political Participation in the EU and Its Member States

The preamble to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU proclaims that the Union is based on the principle of democracy and 'places the individual at the heart of its activities'. This book addresses the relationship between the individual and his or her polity within the European and national constitutional frameworks. It explores the legal issues and challenges raised by interpreting such terms as 'people' or 'nation', as well as by citizenship status, electoral rights and political parties and their interconnections as the main constitutional tools of representative and participatory democracy across the EU. By examining and comparing basic legislative provisions and constitutional judgments in several Member States and the EU, it aims to identify both the homogeneous and heterogeneous features of the constitutional regimes of European countries within 'an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe'.

This book is part of the series on European and National Constitutional Law and is targeting a wide audience, including academics, practitioners and students interested in comparative constitutional law within the EU.