Now The Citizens of Europe!

Now The Citizens of Europe!

Ahead of the European elections in 2019, Democracy International ran the Now the Citizens campaign which called for more citizens’ participation in EU decision-making, including the introduction of randomly-selected citizens’ assemblies to develop concrete suggestions for Europe’s democratic future, and establishing the European Parliament's first-ever Intergroup on Democracy and Citizens' Participation.

Since the 2019 Now the Citizens campaign, there have been great steps forward in developing Europe's democracy, with advances such as the improvement of the European Citizens' Initaitive and the Conference on the Future of Europe. After years of crises and a long need for greater citizens' outreach by the EU, Democracy International strongly welcomes all efforts and opportunities to increase democratic participation. 

All these democratic participation opportunites have one major need in common: They require political follow-up that falls in line with citizens' wishes for Europe. This means, in addition to the new opportunities for citizens' particiaption, a fundamental democratic reform of the EU is needed so that citizens have a greater say in European affairs.

We've campaigned for democratic processes such as randomly-selected citizens' assemblies with the Now the Citizens campaign, which we saw realised through the Conference on the Future of Europe and the European Citizens' Panels. But, ultimately, Europe needs a democratic overhaul and a bottom-up democratic reform process. Fundamental and necessary democratic reform in the EU, such as granting the European Parliament the right of initiative, transforming the European Citizens' Initiative as a real citizens' initiative right, or the introduction of EU-wide referenda require treaty change. That is why, in addition to all the highly welcome new and improved EU participation opportunities, a Convention according to Article 48 of the Lisbon Treaty is even more critical for the future of Europe - because only with fundamental and lasting democratic reform of the EU can Europe become a Europe of the citizens. 

 

Main campaign offices:

Democracy International
Gürzenichstraße 21 a-c
50667 Cologne - Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 221 669 66 50
www.democracy-international.org
contact@democracy-international.org

Meer Democratie (Netherlands)
H.J.E. Wenckebachweg 144-148
1114 AD Amsterdam-Duivendrecht - Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)20 638 0558
www.meerdemocratie.nl
info@meerdemocratie.nl
 

Your donations are welcome!

Democracy International e.V.
IBAN: DE 58370205000001515101
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX

 

Follow us

randomness