| Summary: | The so called democratic deficit and the lack of legitimacy have been at the core of the EU-debate in the last decades. Low turnouts in the elections for the European parliament and disapproval in the ratification processes of the latest changes of the treaties are examples of the citizens lack of confidence for the EU and continuous integration. In Nice 2000 the heads of the member states governments agreed to try to improve the democratic legitimacy in the EU and initiated a public debate aiming at proposals for changes in the decision making processes in the EU. In July 2001 the commission published a white paper with their view. A fundamental presumption in discourse theory is that language and language usage not just is a way to deliver information about ideas and behaviours. Language shapes our apprehension about identities, social relations and system of knowledge. This essay analyses which meanings of democracy and legitimacy the commission establishes, and excludes, in the white paper. The commission emphasise results and possibility to act in favour of procedures for accountability, reversibility and representation. The decision making processes in the EU has a double democratic mandate according to the commission which makes them reluctant to suggest fundamental changes.
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