The Eurozone crisis during the late 2000s constituted one of the greatest socio-political and economic challenges to the Eurozone and the EU more generally. During this time, some of the most fundamental changes to the EU modus operandi were introduced. These changes had, inter alia, a considerable impact on the, arguably already problematic, democratic process within the EU. The aim of this research is to determine how the measures assumed during the Eurozone crisis have impacted the EU Democratic Deficit. To determine this impact, a conclusive, empirical framework for evaluating the effect EU measures have on the Deficit, based on the theoretical contributions in the existing literature, is introduced within this research through the use of additive theory. This framework is then used in a detailed analysis conducted to determine the impact specifically of Eurozone crisis supranational measures on the Deficit. These measures include both those applicable throughout the entire EU/Eurozone (e.g. Six-Pack), and those applicable to specific Eurozone Member States (e.g. financial assistance programs). By considering measures that are both EU-wide but also Member State-specific, both levels referenced within the relevant literature are addressed. Each measure is forensically examined and then evaluated against the indicators established in the empirical Deficit framework, and an overall conclusion is drawn in terms of impact of the measures on the Deficit. To more adequately examine the Member State-specific measures, the case of Greece, the first Eurozone Member State to request financial assistance and the one with the most severe financial and structural problems, is chosen. The outcome of the national level-focused analysis is then put in perspective by comparatively analyzing these findings with the case of Ireland, in to yield whether there are wider conclusions or overall tendencies. The research outcomes indicate that, across the board, the supranational measures assumed during the crisis have impacted the Deficit negatively, chiefly through considerably increased delegation and influence of the supranational level on important national policy areas, lack of corresponding Parliamentary input, inability to protect EU citizens’ rights, and introduction of processes that lack the principles of transparency, accountability and stakeholder participation.
