Transparency proposals heard in Brussels
On 3rd September 2015, EU politicians, NGOS and practitioners came together in Brussels on the occasion of a conference to discuss how the EU can increase transparent decision-making. Democracy International’s proposals for an EU transparency law found strong resonance.
During...
"The 'Credit Initiative' is an answer to our crises"
Gerhard Schuster is one of the key initiators of the "Europe 2019 Credit Initiative", a project currently being formed by people from all across Europe. It aims at granting the right to interest-free credits for enterprises that serve the common good. The "right to credit" is to...
1695 care about clean politics in Brussels
On 25 August 2015, Democracy International handed over to Sven Giegold, Member of the European Parliament, people’s suggestions for how to end intransparent and unfair lobbying in the EU. 1695 Europeans had expressed their priorities in an online questionnaire that Democracy...
US California: Initiative fee raises from $200 to $2000
On Monday, 17 August 2015, the Senate of US California voted to increase the fee for filing a citizens’ initiative (‘ballot measure’ in US English) from $200 to $2,000.
20.000 people want reform of ECI
Democracy International is proud to announce that on 11 August 2015, the network of democracy activists reached its first target of 20,000 signatures in its campaign to improve the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). By signing the petition, 20,000 people from across the...
No ‘Frack Free Denton’ in Texas
In the US city of Denton the Council has overruled a citizens’ initiative that had led to the banning oil and gas drilling. At a meeting on 4 August 2015, the Councillors decided to pass new rules for hydraulic fractioning (‘fracking’) although a citizens’ initiative (or ‘ballot...
Greek drama shows need for democratic revolution
The popular vote in Greece on the bailout terms on 5 July 2015 demonstrated the incompatibility between national democracies and international economic governance regimes. A reason for Democracy International to demand proper forms of modern direct democracy in both Greece and...
What will we tell our grandchildren?
At this very moment, history in Europe is being written. The future of the European Union is being haggled and gambled over in a state of panic and helplessness. Democracy International instead calls for a proper debate to lay the foundation for a better, more democratic and...
The Greek short-cut referendum drama
With a popular vote on the complex bailout terms coming up this weekend, Europe and the world once again has to revisit its suboptimal handling of modern direct democracy, writes Bruno Kaufmann, board member of Democracy International and editor-in-chief at people2power.info,...
The Netherlands: Citizens' initiative against party political appointments
The Dutch democracy group Meer Democratie has launched a citizens' initiative that aims at opening appointments for public posts to everybody - regardless of whether the person is a party member or not. 40,000 signatures are required in order to submit the citzens' initiative to...