European Democracy
Description
In 2019, ECAS transformed its Digital Democracy Focus Area into a new, expanded European Democracy Focus Area. To ensure a comprehensive approach to the topic, the new focus area includes the following three pillars:
- Digital Democracy;
- Understanding Populism;
- Online Disinformation.
In recent years, there have been important societal transformations sweeping through Europe. On the one hand, a new deliberative-collaborative e-democracy model is emerging worldwide. This model can contribute to a more open and inclusive form of policy-making by involving citizens through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). On the other hand, across Europe we are confronted with increasing threats that undermine the foundations and institutions of our democratic societies. There is an urgent need to develop a more precise understanding of these new trends, mainly populism and online disinformation, and how they affect our societies.
For these reasons, ECAS is implementing a European Democracy Agenda with three objectives:
- Digital Democracy – to explore the potential of ICT in reducing the gap between political elites and citizens and contributing to the creation of an engaged citizenship through civic tech;
- Understanding Populism – to develop a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of ‘populism’ in order to take citizens’ voices more into account in our democratic political system;
- Online Disinformation – to understand how to counter online disinformation in order to ensure citizens’ access to quality and objective information as a central element for a healthy public debate.
ECAS also actively supports the implementation of the first transnational instrument of participatory democracy in the EU – the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) – supporting the European Commission in the development and the implementation of European Citizens’ Initiative Forum. The online collaborative platform offers support to citizens when organising an initiative.
2019-2022 Timeframe
In the period 2019 – 2022 ECAS is working to:
- Develop and implement EU projects and services related to European Democracy;
- Advocate for better participatory democracy by exploiting digital technology, at local, national and EU level,
- Improve existing participatory tools, such as the European Citizens Initiative and the EU’s online consultation processes;
- Foster better understanding of populism in Europe through research and trainings;
- Improve citizens’ knowledge on how to access quality information by tackling online disinformation;
- Organise a Digital Democracy Day and an Online Disinformation conference in Brussels as annual events to raise awareness and report on new developments in both areas.
Publications
Digital Tools, E-voting and a Changing Democracy: Report from Digital Democracy Day 2019
Digital tools are changing democracy as we know it, bringing along new opportunities, advances and challenges. Online platforms and e-voting practices have given access to the political world where it was lacking before, allowing citizens to be better informed and…
#EUTakeTheInitiative | Join us in Vienna, Austria on 13 December 2018 for a full-day conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform
The #EUTakeTheInitiative Roadshow is heading to Vienna for its final event of the year! On this occasion we are organising a full-day interactive conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform. We hope to meet many of you interested…
ECAS’ Executive Director at the 2018 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights
On 26 and 27 November, ECAS’ Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova took part in the 2018 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights: Democracy in the EU. The event brought together national and EU policymakers, international organisations, civil society organisations, media and social media representatives, academics…
ECAS’ workshops feature at the We Are Europe Academy
Last weekend, the 2018 edition of the We Are Europe Academy, a training event for civil society activists was held from 9-11 November jointly by ECAS and the Union of European Federalists in Brussels, in the framework of the We are…
State of the Union Citizens’ Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019 – Event report
On 25 September 2018, ECAS held its first annual State of the Union Citizens' Rights conference: towards the European Elections 2019! The first panel focused on current challenges faced by EU citizens with regard to their rights’ enforcement, and the…
“State of the Union Citizens’ Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019!” – ECAS’ Annual Conference, and Launch of the YouVoteEU platform! #SOTUECAS18
The conference explored current challenges to freedom of movement and civic engagement, and analysed grassroots actions of civic campaigning and engagement, in view of the 2019 European Elections. On Tuesday 25 September, ECAS held the first edition of its "State…
Press Release – European Elections 2019: Your Vote Matters and This is How it Will!
A multi-lingual platform for democratic participation in the 2019 elections, co-funded by the European Commission, is launched at ECAS’ State of the Union Citizens’ Rights conference. Tomorrow, Tuesday 25th of September, at ECAS’ State of the Union Citizens’ Rights event 2018,…
YouVoteEU: the New Platform for the 2019 European Elections and Beyond!
The next European elections are just around the corner. As a citizen, are you already wondering how to make sure that the issues you care about are represented in the election campaign? As a civil society organisation, are you wondering…
Save the Date for our Conference “State of the Union Citizens’ Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019” on 25 September
Freedom of movement is one of the most cherished fundamental freedoms of the European Union. Together with the right to political participation they constitute the main building blocks of the EU Citizenship. According to the Spring 2018 Eurobarometer, the majority of Europeans…
Procedural Steps and Drafting an Initiative Were Key Issues Covered in the First Webinar on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)
The ECI is the the first transnational participatory democracy tool for citizens, not only in Europe, but worldwide. To help make the process of organising an ECI as accessible and simple for citizens, last month ECAS hosted the first of…
