Unit 1. Introduction to the European Union Institutions

Step 3. Legitimisation of the EU institutions

Legitimacy is one of the most important aspects of any political system and its institutions. It basically tells us why people accept the political power over them, consider it ‘rightful’ and are ready to obey it. It is therefore very important that EU citizens legitimise the EU institutions on certain grounds. Those grounds can be derived both from the citizens’ input into the system as well as the outputs that the system produces.