Some scholars have also argued that the use of repeated referendums to ratify EU treaties (such as the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon in Ireland) is also associated with a democratic deficit.The Lisbon Treaty was intended to reduce the democratic deficit in the European Union.ome scholars have also argued that the use of repeated referendums to ratify EU treaties (such as the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon in Ireland) is also associated with a democratic deficit.