The European Union (EU) is fundamentally democratic and this is manifested through its institutions. However, the current democratic electoral structure is very worrying. The EU is a new type of political system, often referred to as sui generis, which implies its uniqueness since it exists and a non-comparable political body. The EU cannot be considered either a “state” or an “international institution” as it combines supranational and intergovernmental characteristics (Hix, 1999, p7). In this regard, he developed his own understanding of what democracy is. It is clear that the development and spread of democracy constitutes a central concept and foundation of all policy within the EU, and that the objective remains to make its governmental institutions “more transparent and more democratic”. The recent eurozone crisis, the associated anti-crisis measures and the recent enlargement of the EU have, however, reignited the debate on the democratic legitimacy of the EU. At the heart of the debate are discussions not about whether the EU is a comprehensive democratic institution, but rather about the “democratic deficits” or democratic gaps that exist within this powerful economic and political union. As Schmitter argues, these divisions are based on different conceptions of what democracy is in the modern context and especially in the unique context of the EU. This essay will argue that the EU presents a unique type of political system that is fundamentally democratic, but that there are democratic gaps in its procedural and institutional structure. In making this argument, this essay seeks to answer five things. Firstly, defining democracy in the contemporary context offering the key characteristics of a modern system...... middle of paper......: Reassessing legitimacy in the European Union. Journal of Common Market Studies, 40 (4), pp. 603-24. Peterson, J. and Shackleton, M. 2002. The institutions of the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Schmidt, VA 2013. Democracy and legitimacy in the European Union revisited: inputs, results and “throughput”. Political Studies, 61 (1), pp. 2--22. Schmitter, PC 2001. What is there to legitimize in the European Union… and how to achieve it? IHS Political Science Series: 2001, No. 75. Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna. Tiilikainen, T. 2011. The empowered European Parliament: adaptation to the new functions provided for by the Lisbon Treaty. Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Vesnic-Alujevic, L. and Nacarino, RC 2012. The EU and its democratic deficit: problems and (possible) solutions. European View, 11 (1), pp.. 63--70.