In Berlin the campaign team performed a political art intervention, giving citizens the power to add their own colour to the ideas driving Europe, while in Paris, activists collected wishes and demands on EU democracy and displaying these on a large map of Europe. In Rome, a network of organisations invited candidates from all parties to discuss their ideas for European democracy, while in Athens a discussion with young students and entrepreneurs debated democracy in Europe and the threats of extremism. In many other cities individuals hosted heated debates in their homes, while on the streets dozens of activists collected signatures for a new democratic EU Convention and against anti-democratic provisions in Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

 

The action day was coordinated by the Democratic Europe Now campaign, which works towards building political pressure for an EU Convention to strengthen democracy in the EU, and to generate an open and participatory debate on the future of Europe, involving civil society and citizens. “The way policies are currently made behind closed doors, only heads of state and powerful economic and financial actors dominate the agenda. The Europe-wide action day is an important step to show the loud call coming from citizens for a different Europe, one in which their voice counts,” says Sophie von Hatzfeldt, a political activist at Democratic Europe Now.

Fore more information about the campaign Democratic Europe Now visit the campaign website here.

 

Text by Sophie von Hatzfeldt and Lukas Stolz