Abstract

The form of the EU economic "governance", the respect of the democratic principle and the protection of social rights are linked inextricably. This article explains that since the beginning of the crisis, the EU, in an endeavour to react promptly, has paid attention to financial stability to the detriment of solidarity, although the two values should not be considered in contrast. This has led to a weak democratic legitimacy of the new economic "governance", of the crisis management mechanisms, as well as of the new procedures aimed at ensuring economic policies coordination and financial discipline. As a consequence, the protection of social rights appears weak, too. A shift towards new and more explicit forms of solidarity and a stronger democratic foundation of the economic "governance" - which can be achieved, to a certain extent, also without a Treaty change - would help the EU to pay due regard to the social rights discourse and to re-gain support from its citizens.