How do elections, political parties and parliamentary groups uphold representative democracy, and how much influence do national parliaments have on European decision-making? What reforms are needed at a national and European level to improve representative democracy, as well as how parliaments interact with their citizens?

It is to answer these ambitious questions that the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies have organised an international conference on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December 2013. The conference, entitled “Democracy, parliamentary government and legitimacy” will be held at the Chamber of Deputies and start at 9h00.

The conference will include introductions from Claude Frieseisen, Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies and Rolf Tarrach, President of the University of Luxembourg, along with contributions from a cast of renowned international experts who will challenge the functioning of parliamentary governments using case studies and practical experience in illustration.

“Our goal is to increase public knowledge of the real functioning of European governance and representative democracy, as well as contribute to the ongoing European Governance Research Programme of the University and the Chair on Parliamentary Research of the Chamber,” explains Philippe Poirier, Coordinator of both the European Governance Research Programme of the University of Luxembourg and the Chair.

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Conference venue: Chambre des Députés du Luxembourg, 23, rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, L-1728 Luxembourg.
Full programme of the conference that will take place in French and English. Simultaneous translation from French to English will be provided.
Prior registration is required to demos@uni.lu.
Further information in French at Chaire de recherche en études parlementaires.