EU Parliament calls for improving the ECI
On 28 October 2015 the European Parliament adopted a report calling for an urgent improvement of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) and determining how it should be regulated in the future. The report contains many reforms that Democracy International tirelessly had...
Chaos of ballot processing after referendum in Bulgaria
On 25 October 2015, Bulgaria held a plebiscite on e-voting. Citizens were asked the question “Do you support the idea to be able to vote from a distance, electronically at elections and referendums?”. 73 per cent of the voters opted in favour. However, the result is invalid as...
"A global perspective to solve the refugee crisis!"
On 22 October 2015, Daniel Schily, executive manager of Democracy International, welcomed the audience of the event "What can the world learn from Europe's refugee crisis?" that took place in Berlin with the following words.
Bulgarian people to decide on e-voting
Next Sunday, on 25 October 2015, Bulgaria will hold a plebiscite on e-voting. Citizens will be asked one single question, i.e. “Do you support the idea to be able to vote from a distance, electronically at elections and referendums?”
The popular vote will be taken as a result of...
Switzerland to vote on foreigners, tunnels, marriage and food
On Sunday, 18 October 2015, Switzerland's 5.3 million eligible citizens will elect the members of the two national chambers of Parliament – the National Council (200 seats) and the Council of States (46 seats). The new parliament will then elect the new coalition government on 9...
Start of Dutch referendum campaign on TTIP
On Friday, 9 October 2015, the Dutch democracy organisation Meer Democratie together with foodwatch Netherlands, Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth) and the Transnational Institute kicked-off a campaign for a referendum on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (...
The Direct Democratic Struggle About Free Trade
Free trade agreements across national borders have always triggered opposition and debate, in part because international trade politics and democracy are hard to reconcile. Free trade is about creating an economic environment across national borders and continents that primarily...
Europe one step closer to the citizens
On Monday, 28 September 2015, Europe came one small step closer to its citizens. The European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) collectively agreed on proposals for improving the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) and called on the European Commission to...
Journalism is the "Oxygen of Democracy"
What's the relationship between democracy and the media? This question had raised the Swiss public broadcasting channel SRG SSR at a conference that took place in Chur, Switzerland, on 25 September 2015.
Democracy International is a media partner of the foreign broadcasting...
“The state just overruled a democratic decision”
Adam Briggle is a member of “Frack Free Denton”, an alliance of citizens that banned hydraulic oil and gas drilling (“fracking”) in Denton, Texas, in November 2014. The successful protest against fracking was realised by means of direct democracy. It gained worldwide attention...