From good governance to democratic governance? : a policy review of the first wave of European governance research : policy synthesis of research results

The review tackles governance, that is a term and process that cuts across a broad variety of policy fields and actors. Its main aim is to identify problems of governance as well as best practices that can be made fruitful for current and future policies and practices, with focus on Europe while having a broader significance. Governance is both a descriptive and a normative term. The projects reviewed reflect both these aspects from different angles in terms of substance, methods and viewpoints. The key 'angles' that emerge include the articulation of governance with the development of a European identity, its relation with principles and practices of democracy, the specific structures and objectives of European governance, and the links between European and global levels. The more new modes of governance differ from traditional forms of government the higher is the need for communication with the citizens. Thus, it is probably the most urgent task for European institutions to clarify governance procedures and define the question of responsibility and accountability for their outcomes.