Reading time: 3 minutes
Experts, policymakers and analysts gathered in central Brussels on Monday evening for a high-profile debate titled “Empire of Law: The EU’s March Beyond Democracy.” The event hosted by MCC Brussels, brought together prominent voices who warned that the European Union is undergoing a steady shift toward centralised power that threatens national sovereignty and democratic accountability.
The event also launched a new report with the same title written by Dr.Philipp Siegert. The full report can be found here https://brussels.mcc.hu/publication/empire-of-law-pushing-supranationalism-beyond-democratic-legitimacy
The panel featured Boglárka Bólya, Ministerial Commissioner at the Hungarian Ministry of European Union Affairs; Michael von der Schulenburg, MEP for Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht; and Dr. Philipp Siegert, Deputy Research Director at MCC Brussels. The debate was moderated by John O’Brien, Head of Communications at MCC Brussels.
Opening the evening, O’Brien argued that the European integration project has gradually moved away from its democratic foundations, allowing EU institutions to expand their influence into areas traditionally controlled by member states. He warned that ongoing centralisation raises fundamental questions about whether national governments remain “masters of their own laws.”
MCC Brussels' Executive Director Frank Füredi reinforced the criticism by claiming that the EU’s “competence creep” begins with its own political language. He said the shift from describing “national states” to “member states” subtly reframes the relationship between the EU and its nations, implying subordination rather than sovereignty. Such linguistic changes, he warned, shape public understanding of key democratic concepts.
Dr. Siegert examined the institutional dynamics behind the trend, arguing that supranational institutions increasingly push integration beyond treaty limits. The principle of an “Ever Closer Union,” he said, has been built into the EU’s legal foundations since its inception.
MEP Michael von der Schulenburg placed the EU’s centralisation in a global context, arguing that the EU is attempting to maintain global influence despite demographic decline. “The era of Europe’s greatness is over,” he said, warning that efforts to build an “empire” contradict the interests of EU citizens.
He criticised the EU’s handling of Hungary and Georgia’s candidate status, suggesting that rule-of-law procedures have been used politically. Schulenburg also raised concerns about the expanding powers of the ECJ, which he said increasingly sanctions individuals as well as states, creating a judiciary with little external accountability. He argued that the EU requires constitutional reform, greater separation of powers and a model that respects the diversity of its member states.
Boglárka Bólya criticised the notion of a “United States of Europe,” arguing that the push for deeper integration is rooted in the EU’s origin narrative and has intensified over time. Bólya emphasised that Hungary shares the values listed in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union but disagrees with the way the EU institutions interpret them. “Unity cannot replace freedom,” she said, calling for a Europe of nations that preserves cultural and political identity.
The debate underscored a growing divide between advocates of deeper European integration and those who argue that the EU is drifting into a post-democratic model of governance. While the panellists differed in tone and emphasis, all agreed that the EU must confront fundamental questions about sovereignty, legitimacy, and the future direction of the European project.
