In a climate of excessive optimism regarding the "end of history," those of us who studied and analyzed the EU celebrated the promise that economic liberalism and the expansion of supranational decision-making structures would bring much greater wealth for all and the resolution of global problems, resulting in our failure to recognize that the reaction of Euro-skepticism is not vaguely directed against a flawed democratic system, but against an EU that has become detached and acts against its peoples.

This does not mean that deeper integration is not necessary. However, it may be desirable for the EU to take a step back and think about how a fuller democratic dialogue can be encouraged before the next steps of integration are adopted. Taking such a step back could then contribute to solidifying the foundations upon which European integration rests…

Christos A. Frangonikolopoulos is an associate professor of International Relations at the Department of Journalism and Mass Media at Aristotle University and holder of the Jean Monnet Chair.