One day after the terrorist attacks in Paris I attended the general assembly of Mehr Demokratie, German partner organisation of Democracy International, in Düsseldorf. There I received a text message by a very good friend of mine from France: She told me that her family and friends in Paris were safe. I was relieved to receive this piece of news – and shocked at the same time, still trying to grasp what had happened in the French capital the previous evening.

These days I am deeply worried. The events in Paris, the lacking solidarity of some EU states to take in refugees and asylum seekers' misery on their long route through Europe, the decline of judicial control in some European countries like for example Hungary, and moreover, the developments concerning Syria on a global scale. In view of all these burning issues in the world – is it appropriate to think right now about the democratic future of the EU as my colleagues and I did in Düsseldorf last Saturday?

Meanwhile, I have overcome the state of shock I was in last weekend. I have realised that there is only one possibility: To carry on with the work that we started, to advocate democracy, human rights and justice the best we can. In this sense I wish to inform you about our work for more democracy in Europe and a stronger EU Citizens’ Initiative, you can read about below.

Best regards,
Cora Pfafferott