Gunnar Folke Schuppert: European Civil Society - Phantom or Project for the Future, FJ NSB 4/01, pp. 5-13

The process of Europeanisation is well on its way. However, a European civil society similar to national civil societies is still missing. Instead of a civil society on the European level Gunnar Folke Schuppert finds a transformation of the nation state including its economy, politics, juridical system, its society and thereby its specific form of civil society. This process of Europeanisation is analysed for several areas, i.e. European constitution, European collective symbols, and European networks of civil society actors. Discussing opportunities to further the establishment of European networks, Schuppert expects the emergence of a European civil society in the long run.

Jo Leinen: Governing Europe - With or Without Its Citizens?, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 14-19

According to the Eurobarometer surveys people show sceptical attitudes towards European integration. This is caused by a fundamental problem of the European Union. It was established as a Union of governments rather than a Union of citizens. In order to come to a European Federation accepted by its citizens, the Member of European Parliament Jo Leinen regards three steps as necessary: a European constitutional assembly, a clarification of the European polity and the establishment of European parties. Leinen suggests a bicameral system with the European Parliament being directly elected by the citizens and a chamber constituted by the council of ministers. Additionally one needs a European citizenship with constitutional rights which can be taken to the European Court in Luxembourg. Realistic is such a system only with a European public sphere and democratic participation. Options of direct participation would be a way to develop both.

Christiane Lemke: Active Citizens and Democracy in the European Union, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 20-29

Christiane Lemke analyses the democratic deficit of the European Union from a theoretical perspective. Then she discusses opportunities for a European citizenship and possibilities of direct participation. Citizenship can only be understood from an evolutionary perspective with a development of a culture of rights in Europe. This is of major importance in respect to the European Union's enlargment. The idea of active citizens in the European polity presupposes a European citizenship. The extension of voting rights and more competences for the European Parliament would help to establish a European citizenship.

Rudi Hoogvliet/Michael Wedell, ‚From Anti-Party-Party to an Alternative': Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, pp. 52-58

The party representatives Rudi Hoogvliet and Michael Wedell see the major task of the greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) as twofold: first, it needs to maintain its link to the social movements where the party comes from, and second it needs to attract new members and voters. On the local level the greens need to offer opportunities for active political participation. Training for party activists and modern communcation structures are prerequisites.

Juan Díez Medrano: Quality Press and European Integration, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 30-41

Medrano discusses prerequisites for a European public sphere. Based on lead articles in British, Spanish and German quality newspapers Medrano looks for signs of a European public sphere which is distinct from a national one. Criteria are whether the authors refer to Europe as a reference point and whether the public agenda and issue framing are similar. He finds first signs of a European public sphere though still secondary to national reporting. From missing debates among public actors in Europe Medrano concludes that a European public sphere will be based on specific issues.

Christoph O. Meyer: European Public Sphere as Watchdog - Transnational Journalism and the Dismissal of the European Commission, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 42-51

Looking at the scandal about corruption in the European Commission Christoph O. Meyer analyses the work of journalists in Brussels. He comes to the conclusion that a surveillance of political responsibilities can be achieved by a multinational press. This hints towards better opportunities for a European public sphere. However, still there are several obstacles for public debates in synchronised media reporting. Especially the organisations of media and journalists should make bigger efforts to cope with the Europeanisation of politics.

Martin Brusis: European and National Identity in the Debates on Accession, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 53-60

Martin Brusis analyses the role of identity concepts in debates on accession to the European Union. Identity issues are of major importance as most accession states plan referenda. Based on surveys and case studies the author describes the public perception of Europe and the membership in the European Union and its development during the last ten years. Special attention is paid to country differences and Euroscepticism. The institutions of the European Union fail to observe the effects of discussions and decisions on the function of European identity in the accession states. Due to the differing role and importance of European identity the European Union needs to adjust its communication strategy for each accession state.

Helen Schwenken: "No border, no nation, stop deportation!" - Protest Mobilisation Against the European Border Regime, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 61-69

Schwenken analysis protest campaigns against the European border regime by anti racist and refugee organisations. Territorial borders and their permeability become the starting points of mobilisation. They are part of a multi level protest strategy. Based on the sociology of social movements Schwenken integrates ideas of current debates from the interdisciplinary research on borders, which discuss the changing character of borders.

Jochen Roose: Constituency Far Away From Brussels - Environmental Organisations and Political Influence on the European Level, FJNSB 4/01, pp. 70-77

For tackling the democratic deficit interest organisations must have the ability to represent citizen interests. Jochen Roose discusses the ability of national environmental organisations to become active on the European level. He finds comparatively little activity by environmental organisations in respect to European institutions. However, an explanation of this finding with the dilemma of the logic of membership and the logic of influence is not plausible as other findings are in contradiction to this idea. To understand the little engagement of national environmental organisations on the European level one has to look at the under-resourced organisations which are confronted with an unfamiliar political system.