Part 9/10:
This shift raises concerns about the future of democracy itself. When sovereignty is surrendered gradually—initially in small areas like trade, then in crucial policy fields—politicians might see it as a way to implement agendas that wouldn't garner sufficient electoral support if presented directly to voters.
Conclusion: A Critical Juncture
The European Union began as an optimistic experiment in cooperation and prosperity. But what was once a support structure for mutual economic benefit has evolved into a distant, bureaucratic superorganism, disconnected from the people it claims to serve. The effects have been far-reaching: erosion of sovereignty, democratic disempowerment, and an increasing reliance on unelected institutions.