About: citizens
Citizens criticise lack of political interest in bloc-wide democracy experiment
Representatives of EU citizens panels at the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) asked politicians to take meetings more seriously, noting that the majority did not turn up to the last plenary session, according to a letter seen by EURACTIV.
Should European citizens dictate the bloc’s budget?
MEPs and experts propose to scale up a city-level tool allowing citizens to decide how to spend a part of the municipal resources and let Europeans shape the EU budget expenditure.
Weak participatory tools hinder citizens’ attempts to shape EU policies
The EU’s attempts to encourage citizens’ engagement through participatory tools has made little impact due to the lack of information and clear follow-up, experts say.
Politicians ready to hear citizens’ ideas but roles need to be clearly defined
Giving citizens a say in decision-making beyond elections can help the leadership make better decisions, but sharing power requires a clear division of roles, politicians and experts have said. Citizen participation has increased rapidly in recent years and at all...
Irish mayor: the challenge of integrating youth in public participation networks
Forms of deliberative democracy, such as public participation networks, can support traditional politics - but integrating young people into the process remains a challenge, Gillian Coughlan, mayor of Cork County in Ireland, said in an interview with EURACTIV.
Ensuring participatory democracy without abdicating responsibility
While participatory democracy sounds like an important goal to many, it also raises questions of responsibility, accountability, power and trust, according to a panel on citizen engagement.
Disinterest from politicians clouds EUs deliberative democracy experiment
While the debate was more focussed and better organised than before, participants said disinterest from politicians clouded the latest panel of the conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) event in Strasbourg at the weekend. CoFoE is the first EU...
CoFoE: deliberative democracy more accountable than elections and polls
Deliberative democracy processes are more democratic than general elections or surveys, according to Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) participants and experts of the second panel on democracy gathered in Florence last weekend.
Future of Europe conference ‘not a listening exercise without consequences’, says leading MEP
“Governments are obliged to react, they cannot bypass citizens’ proposals”, Italian socialist MEP Brando Benifei told EURACTIV in an interview on the Conference on the Future of Europe.
EU quells fears over lack of media interest in CoFoE
Despite participants fears that the Conference on the Future of Europe is not making headlines and therefore might not be as impactful as hoped, the Commission has reassured them that the media is listening and their voices will be heard.
EU’s Comittee of Regions calls for local participation in Future of Europe summit
The Conference on the Future of Europe launched Sunday (9 May) in Strasbourg can only succeed if local and regional communities are involved, the European Committee of the Regions has argued. EURACTIV France reports.
The EU now needs a fully-fledged #EUCitizenCommissioner
We should never forget that democracy is not just about voting: citizens also want their voices heard between elections, write Roger Casale and Verena Ringler.
Macron’s party presents election programme in Berlin
Two weeks before the European elections, Emmanuel Macron’s La Republique en Marche (LREM) party published its election programme and is now attempting to mobilise pro-European voters, including those in Berlin. EURACTIV German reports.
EU grandees map trail for restoring citizens’ trust ahead of 2019 elections
Against the backdrop of yet another EU political crisis, this time with Catalonia seeking independence, opinion makers and decision makers in Brussels have tried to sketch a plan for rebutting populist pressures and restore trust in the European Union
Europeans want a say on the next Commission president: Poll
European citizens are more inclined to vote if they are given the chance to choose who will be the next president of the European Commission, according to a survey released today (6 September).Back to basics in the EU
EU citizens feel insecure and that their voices aren't reaching the ears of their political leaders despite sometimes violent demonstrations. Desperation is growing in several EU countries, says Gilbert Fayl.Power to the people: The community-based energy transition in Europe
Generating all energy from renewable sources is no longer a pipe dream in Europe. From Denmark to Austria, we can see examples of a successful energy transition. Germany is clearly seen as the front-runner and an important driver - especially due to its nuclear phase-out. But the energy transition is not only “made in Germany” but also “made in Europe”, says Anna Leidreiter.
IT problems hinder first EU citizen’s petitions
The first six European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECIs) in EU history have launched campaigns and are collecting signatures, but it’s at the moment impossible to support an ECI online due to what one group calls "severe" problems. VideoPromoted content
EU, from April 1, will allow citizens to propose laws
It is not an April Fool's joke. It is finally happening. After years of talks, the EU will launch on the 1st of April the European Citizens initiative. The programme will enable people to propose new laws. Citizens will need to collect one million signatures from at least 7 different member states.
Reding calls for wider use of citizens’ consultations
EU policymakers must consult citizens more often, but consultations must reflect the specific needs of the EU institutions to justify the cost of holding them, European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding told a Brussels audience on Tuesday (14 September).
EU to kick off citizens’ initiative with tougher rules
A conspicuous amount of personal data will be required and specific conditions adhered to before citizens can propose legislation under the citizens' initiative introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, according to a new regulation seen by EURACTIV, set to be presented by the European Commission tomorrow (31 March).