Tag: Democracy

Beware of an EU foreign interference law

Written by Adriana DAuria on 05/12/2023. Posted in News, Institutions.

On 27 November 2023, the European Partnership for Democracy, together with Civil Society Europe, Transparency International EU and The Good Lobby, organised a press briefing on “Defend Democracy: Mind the Impact of an EU Foreign Influence Law”. This event was part of the co-organisers’ broader advocacy efforts on the Defense of Democracy Package. The aim was to:

1. present the state of play regarding the EU’s foreign interference legislation,

2. consider the effects that such a law would have, and

3. propose concrete alternatives to the legislation.

The press briefing also featured a presentation of The Good Lobby’s study titled “How to Evaluate a Foreign Influence Legislation?”

In our response, we expressed various concerns related, among others, to the freedoms of civil society organisations, the geopolitical implications of this legislation, and a call for an ‘Interest Representatives Act’ to promote transparency and fairness.
A handout with the recommendations and the questions raised by the panel was distributed to the participants. The content of this document builds on EPD’s ongoing commitment to democracy and civic space, in coherence with our work on the proposed Defense of Democracy Package since late 2022.

Read the press brief summary

Nets4Dem: Innovating European Democracy — Together

Written by Adriana DAuria on 28/11/2023. Posted in News, Innovation.

Twelve like-minded European and global organisations committed to advancing democratic innovation and participation are coming together in the new Horizon project Nets4Dem.

This is an unprecedented initiative, building the infrastructure needed to strengthen democracy across Europe based on local, national and European-wide networks.

Nets4Dem will establish a European network of academics, practitioners and civil society, creating a hub for advanced research and collaboration in the field of democratic innovation, civic deliberation, participation and citizenship education.

The founding member organisations bring together more than 200 cities, over 50 think tanks and universities, and dozens of democracy-focused NGOs, covering 38 European countries, and linking to democracy-focused work in 130 countries worldwide.

Citizens are not giving up on democracy but seek new and more deliberative and equitable participation in the democratic process. Therefore, our democracies must become more inclusive, effective and participatory so they can rebuild trust with citizens and enable new pathways of political engagement.

In light of this need, Nets4Dem aims to become an enabling force for democratic renewal. This initiative pools a wide range of experience and expertise from global experts and Europe-spanning civic networks to further its mission: strengthening and improving democracy by connecting scattered knowledge, making it easily accessible, and giving policymakers and practitioners the skills and capacity to work better with citizens.

The network will open for new members in the new year. By harnessing the extensive and collective reach of its participating members, Nets4Dem will foster deeper and more effective collaborations between existing actors in the democratic space.

Nets4Dem founding participants are:

Nets4Dem’s reach will extend across Europe and Horizon Associated Countries (see them here).

The initiative is funded by the European Union through its Horizon Europe programme, and is coordinated by Democracy Reporting International.

For updates and more information on Nets4Dem, sign up for our newsletter at the link below.

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You can also receive updates on our activities by following our social media accounts. Follow @Nets4Dem on X and LinkedIn.

A United Nations Special Rapporteur on Democracy

A United Nations Special Rapporteur for Democracy

Written by Adriana DAuria on 23/11/2023. Posted in News.

Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), EPD joined more than 80 civil society organisations, networks, think tanks and institutions, as well as over 180 individuals from across the world in the call for a United Nations Special rapporteur on Democracy.

In an era when democracy is globally challenged, the proposal for a special United Nations Rapporteur needs urgent consideration

Democracy is not a luxury. Democratic principles and practices provide the best conditions for peace and prosperity. Such conditions cannot exist nor last without the protection and promotion of civic space. Ethnic and religious minorities, as well as underrepresented groups such as women and youth, are heavily dependent on effective democratic institutions to be able to participate, represent their interests and fight for their rights. Putting democracy back among the priorities of the UN agenda would be a first step to ensure such groups have their say.

“Democracy is a human right and human rights depend on democracy. The United Nations can no longer look the other way while this right is being denied, undermined and weakened in many countries around the world. A UN rapporteur on democracy is urgently needed”

Andreas Bummel, Executive Director, Democracy Without Borders.

In an era where democracy is heavily threatened and authoritarianism is on the rise, the United Nations need to step up its efforts to foster human rights and democratic principles. The establishment of a United Nations special rapporteur would support policy-makers in the promotion of integrity in political speech, transparency in government and the protection of fundamental human rights.

Boosting global commitments to democratic principles

The new rapporteur position would be created by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, with the mandate of investigating the state of democracy around the world. The signatories demand that the mandate be based on United Nations resolutions aiming at identifying and supporting democratic principles, including the fundamental principle that “public authority must derive from the will of people”, contained in Article 21 of the UDHR. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur on Democracy’s work would contribute to the realisation of democracy, including support for constitutional and institutional arrangements such as checks and balances; effectiveness of parliaments; free, fair and competitive elections and election environments; political participation including of minorities and women; direct and deliberative mechanisms; as well as civic space and freedoms.

Like-minded organizations, policy-makers and individuals are invited to sign on.