Cranbrook Educational Community, Michigan

The corona crisis has severely slowed down the momentum in the developing debate on EU reform. The "Conference on the Future of Europe" had to be postponed. The corona crisis is basically managed by the nation states. But “Europa” must take the bull by the horns! Otherwise she will mummify like an aging diva in the back rooms of power.

Citizens Take Over Europe - It’s time to care. It’s time to act. It’s time to organise. If not us, then who?

Civil Society Organizations kick off a Citizens’ Conference on the Future of Europe. - This year’s Europe Day, the 9th of May, is marked by the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, by the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2 and by the terrible Covid-19 pandemia. At a turning point for Europe, civil society organisations across the Union are taking the lead to organise a citizen-led Conference on the Future of Europe, and send out a message of solidarity, cooperation and democracy.

Parliament | created 2020-02-12

Towards The Conference On The Future Of The EU

On 15th January the European Parliament adopted a "Resolution on the Conference on the Future of Europe". In it the Parliament describes its ideas on the scope, concept, structure, procedure and timetable of this conference, which was convened by the new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. These proposals are, in terms of scope, differentiation, transparency and participation requirements, among the best ever decided by an EU institution. One might almost say that if even a fraction of them were to be implemented, it would be a giant step forward in the culture of participation at EU level. Moreover, these proposals also set standards for the participation culture in those member…

Other | created 2019-11-25

Switzerland's Concordance Democracy and the Possible Application for the EU Commission

Pixabay

Switzerland has no government in the usual sense to steer the country in one direction or the other. That's why Nassim Taleb says it doesn't have a government, but a "non-government". The executive branch is headed by a seven-member board of directors, the so-called "Federal Council", which is composed of all major parties in a non-partisan manner, and which decides by consensus. It adopts ordinances to which it is authorised by law, submits the financial plan (budget), implements laws and court rulings, administers the budget and represents Switzerland in external relations.

Citizen convention | created 2019-08-30

The Future Of The EU Is Its Ability To Reform Itself

Pixabay

The past European Parlamentary elections have shown that the citizens have great trust in this institution. Now it is time to take the next step and to initiate a democratic overhaul of the EU in order to strengthen it in the face of the incoming multitude of challenges.

The leaders of the European Union guide democracy in name only. In practice, they constantly override it and violate fundamental democratic norms on a grand scale. The anti-democratic practices in the Council of the EU, also known as the Council of Ministers, are a real scandal. Anyone who follows the passage of legislation in the EU, and in particular the means by which monetary union is controlled, must come to this conclusion.

When is Brexit coming? This month, next month, next year - or not at all? Our WG Europe spokesman Stefan Padberg claims that: "It's already here! The Brexit referendum of June 2016 has already profoundly changed our perception of Europe. And Brexit has lost its charme.“

From 23-26 May, the European elections take place. This is our only chance, once every 5 years, to have a direct influence on the course of the European Union. But are elections really enough to ensure democracy?

We don't think so! That's why we are campaigning for fundamental democratic reforms of the EU - by putting citizens center stage!

Public Domain Pictures CC0 Public Domain

A campfire is a place where people meet. In former times they met to talk about the topics of common interest. Think of Red Indian or Germanic tribes (the famous Althing in Iceland f.e.). The modern public campfire is Parliament. In public debate the deputies dispute the pros and cons of a topic and decide by simple majority. But where is the campfire on European level?

The EU is mired in crisis, disoriented by Britain’s decision to leave the Union and the increasing scepticism towards Brussel's and Germany’s dominating influence. Even though the election of Macron as President of France has given new momentum to the debate on the future of the EU, it has not given this debate a more precise direction. How can citizens initiate changes in the constitutional structure of the EU in a sustainable way?

Europe, Quo Vadis?

Shared Post: Citizens Take Over Europe!

Towards The Conference On The Future Of The EU

Switzerland's Concordance Democracy and the Possible Application for the EU Commission

The Future Of The EU Is Its Ability To Reform Itself

Shared Post: Legislation from closed chambers – how (un)democratic is the EU? (by Harald Schumann, Investigate Europe)

Brexit is changing Europe - already

European Elections 2019:
Sign The Petition For A Truly Democratic Europe

Excuse Me, Where Is the Campfire, Please?
A Critical View on the Institutional Labyrinth of EU

For A European Constitutional Convention