Britain of all countries poses the democratic question with regards to the European Union the most often and most forcefully. Yet ironically this year Britain, which has long been regarded as the inventor and home of democracy by many of its citizens, is posing the democratic question with regards to its own national parliament. Electoral reform, the implications of devolution to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and the famous 'West Lothian question' of Scottish MPs voting in Westminster on laws that only affect England, and the fall-out from the expenses scandal mean that the institutions and meanings of democracy are under wider public discussion than at any time in the last 50 years. In addition, Transeuropa festival, between 25th and 9th May, is highly likely to coincide with a general election in the UK, a historic election in which the far-right poses the greatest threat of winning a seat in recent history (following its success in the European elections), in which the UK independence party will run for the first time at a national level (they call for the UK to leave the EU), and with a highly euro-skeptic Conservative party leading in almost all the opinion polls month after month. In this context Transeuropa in London will pose the questions of the meaning of democracy, ask whether the nation state is any longer the most progressive level for promoting democracy, look for new ideas on political participation, and question the future of political representation and political parties. This public enquiry will take place via a public forum on Democracy and the EU, and the screening of Oliver Ressler's powerful work 'What is Democracy?' Many of the ongoing activities of European Alternatives throughout the year concern rethinking democracy and fighting for it at a transnational level. See: Future of Representation Project Future of political parties event Democratising the European Union Campaign: Put power in the hands of citizens