Europe Speaks: A TEPSA Podcast

EU Democracy Explained – Is the EU Democratic? Part 3 – the European Parliament

Europe Speaks: A TEPSA Podcast

Show Notes

In this series from the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), Hugh Evans explores the ways democracy weaves its way in and out of the EU system. This episode tackles the institution that you might already be most familiar with: the European Parliament. We will learn about its history dating all the way back to the 1950s and about what developments over the course of that period have served to increase the quality of representation, accountability, and ultimately democracy within it. We will also tackle a crucial concept in democracy theory: representation. While you might think you already know about this concept, there is more to the theory of representation than you might think, and its nuanced and vital role in democracy is implemented in a unique way in the EU system, EU Democracy Explained is a series where we delve into detail about what democracy actually is and how it works in Europe, and ask ourselves: “what makes the EU democratic?” Script, Recording & Editing: Hugh Evans Music: Wondershare Filmora X. Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

More from Europe Speaks: A TEPSA Podcast

Oct 20, 2026

When candidate countries adopt EU social rules, do citizens’ lives actually change? What does it take to build resilient societies on the path to EU membership? This final episode looks at social cohesion in candidate countries and asks how the EU can help aspiring members move from passing laws to actually implementing them. InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests:

Oct 12, 2026

This episode of EuropeChats is a discussion between Seamus Allen, Senior Researcher at the Institute of International and European Affairs, and TEPSA Secretary-General Jim Cloos. The conversation covers European regulations and competitiveness in the tech sector, the regulatory framework for digital platforms, and the EU's AI policy. Seamus Allen is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin. He works on digital policy, on the IIEA’s democracy series and also works on the IIEA’s Future Proofing Europe project. Prior to joining the IIEA, he worked for the Central Bank of Ireland. EuropeChats is the flagship podcast of TEPSA, and it is part of the TEPSA Podcast Channel “Europe Speaks”. Music: Worakls, 22 September 2014, Salzburg, Hungry music Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Oct 9, 2026

The European Commission has recently presented its pre-enlargement policy reviews with proposals on qualified majority voting, rule of law safeguards, and gradual integration. Will these proposals help accelerate European integration? And how do we remove the barriers that stand in the way of making enlargement a success? This episode of InvigoratEU Talks explores the changes that the EU must consider if it wants to speed up the enlargement process. InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests:

Jul 17, 2026

What are Russia and China trying to achieve in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood? And how does that affect candidate countries’ path to EU membership? This episode of InvigoratEU Talks explores the impact of Russia and China’s political, economic, and social influence on the European continent. InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests:

Jun 25, 2026

Democracy support has been a cornerstone of EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy. Yet, today it is increasingly intertwined with geopolitical competition. In this third episode of InvigoratEU Talks, we ask: has the EU become better at promoting democracy, or has geopolitics changed the rules of the game? InvigoratEU Talks is a podcast series born from the Horizon Europe-funded project, InvigoratEU, bringing together leading scholars and policy-makers from across Europe to do exactly what the name suggests: re-invigorate EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy in a changing world. Host: Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA Guests:

See all episodes →