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11-04-2013
ECI Day in Brussels: Civil Society, make it work!
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) has been one year in practice, but neither EU politicians nor civil society organisations are happy with the instrument. Originally praised as the first tool of transnational direct democracy, “ECI Day” in Brussels on 9 April 2013 showed...
02-04-2013
Not a fairy tale. The Icelandic direct democracy Saga (Part 1)
The small Mediterrean island of Cyprus has made the headlines this spring. The crash of its banking sector, sending shockwaves across the Eurozone and beyond, was strongly reminiscent of another small island also on the periphery of Europe, but in quite a different climatic zone...
01-04-2013
European Citizens' Initiative - one year old
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) gives citizens the right to directly engage in setting the legislative agenda for the EU. Once signatures supporting a policy proposal have been collected and verified from at least one million EU citizens, the European Commission is...
26-03-2013
"Democracy starts at home" - Interview with Petros from Greece
Petros Vourlis is an electrical engineer by profession. He lives in Athens. Petros Vourlis has been campaigning for direct democracy in his country for two years. He has translated into Greek the book “Direct Democracy. Facts and Arguments about the introduction of initiative...
12-03-2013
Falkland Islands Referendum: British people want to be British. 99,8 per cent vote "Yes"
Today the Falklands Islands Government announced the result of the referendum on the status of the islands, conducted during 10 and 11 March 10 2013. Accordingly 1,513 Falklanders opted for and three Falklanders voted against the Falkland Islands to remain a part of the United...
01-03-2013
Slovakia: Gorilla causes fight for direct democracy
New group of activists founded in Bratislava In March 2012 political activists launched the Petition for a better Slovakia with the goal of improving Slovakia’s legislation for referenda. The activists also founded the group OZ PD (Direct Democracy Association) in Bratislava to...
25-02-2013
Parliament Discusses Draft of new Constitution
Council of Europe's Venice Commission comments on direct democracy enshrined in draft constitution
As Iceland Review Online reports on 19 February 2013, the Icelandic parliament Alþingi’s Constitutional and Supervisory Committee decided to make some of the amendments proposed...
19-02-2013
Vote of the Falkland Islands' citizens or of Illegal Settlers?
Historic Poll in the Falkland Islands/ Malvinas
On 10 and 11 March 2013, Falkland Island’s eligible voters will go to the polls to answer the following question by referendum: “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory...
15-02-2013
Dutch doors open to direct democracy
On Thursday, 14 February 2013, the lower house of the Dutch parliament adopted legislation to introduce a non-binding facultative referendum. With this instrument of direct democracy, 300,000 citizens can trigger a national referendum on a law or treaty passed by the national...
06-02-2013
“People will voice peace in a new EU Treaty”
Interview with Christian Felber on the EU as a peace project and an EU convention
Christian Felber is an Austrian freelance journalist, book author and international lecturer. Co-founder of Attac Austria, he initiated the projects “Democratic Bank” and “Economy for the Common...