[Brussels, 30 April 2014] A new transparent and inclusive space for debate has been created by, and for civil society, to design a constructive regeneration of the European project. Consisting of 40+ European civil society organisations, including the European Women’s Lobby, working together for positive democratic change in the EU through the active and better involvement of citizens in representative and participative democracy, institutional reforms and policy changes.
Mission
Europe+ is committed to relaunching and strengthening the European debate and civil dialogue between civil society and open and responsive institutions, at all levels of democratic life (European, national, regional, local and grassroots), and builds on the recommendations2 of the European Year of Citizens Alliance 2013 (EYCA).
Europe+ will work towards this mission by reflecting on ideas and tools for a renewed and better-functioning democracy in Europe.
Objectives
– To promote the sharing of information on EU institutions and European democracy with citizens. This includes the provision of tangible and constructive options on how to “engage” with citizens in Europe.
– To work with civil society organisations to provide them with information before and after the European elections that can be used to: educate different audiences on the institutions and reforms that can be carried out.
– To work with candidates ahead of the elections to help them better articulate current concerns and possible policy changes.
– To work with Member States and call on them to engage citizens in a debate on European democratic renewal. Member States need to be held accountable, monitored and reminded of their responsibility to European democracy, and thus should be urged to adopt minimum standards of consultation.
– To provide arguments in favour of a renewal of European democracy (to counter Eurosceptic arguments) and to communicate these to citizens through civil society organisations or directly.
– To encourage institutional reforms and an open and transparent treaty revision process that would reinforce representative democracy, building on the example of the Convention on the future of Europe. Europe+ members will be facilitated in creating spaces to discuss, advocate and campaign for this.
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