Europe’s Grand Democratic Illusion

The European Union (EU) loves to present itself as a model of democracy, but the truth is far less glamorous. Some of the biggest decisions affecting people’s daily lives — jobs, borders, businesses, digital rights — are made by officials no ordinary citizen ever voted for.

The European Commission, the most powerful EU body, is unelected. Yet it writes the rules, signs deals, and pushes policies that millions must follow. The European Parliament exists, but its real power is limited. The centre of decision-making sits behind closed doors, in the hands of technocrats most Europeans cannot name.

This distance breeds frustration. Farmers, workers, and small business owners feel controlled by regulations designed far away by people who never face the consequences. Euroscepticism is rising because citizens want decisions made by people they can actually hold accountable.

The EU speaks loudly about rights and representation. But when crucial power lies with the unelected, the gap between appearance and reality becomes clear.

The illusion of perfect European democracy is grand. But it’s cracking — fast.