Democracy in crisis: should a permanent European Citizens’ Assembly supplement the European Parliament?

• Florence School of Transnational Governance

In times of geopolitical turbulence and growing democratic challenges, Europe faces a crucial question: Should a Permanent European Citizens’ Assembly be established alongside the European Parliament?

On 14 October, Members of the European Parliament, EU officials, academics, civil society and citizens will gather at the European Parliament to debate how citizens’ assemblies could strengthen Europe’s democratic fabric and shape the future of transnational democratic innovations worldwide. Co-organised by the European Parliament and the Democratic Odyssey, this roundtable will reflect on the outcomes of a year-long democratic experiment across Europe. It will ask whether a new permanent institution could both enrich and scrutinise parliamentary work.

A Democratic Experiment Across Europe

The roundtable builds on the Democratic Odyssey’s pilot Assembly, which brought together 300 randomly selected citizens from across Europe and beyond in Athens, Florence, Vienna, and online. The Democratic Odyssey's first Assembly was not an end in itself. Instead, it served as a pilot for what can become a permanent European Citizens Assembly. An Assembly that would meet alongside the European Parliament and act as a magnifying chamber. What lessons can we draw from this first part of the Democratic Odyssey’s journey? Who are the actors of change that will it? What do MEPs and other stakeholders think about this vision? What lessons should be drawn from the ongoing Pollinators Assembly and the post-Conference on the Future of Europe deliberative trends? This debate is anchored in academic and public debates, fostered by an e-book and a journal (see relevant links below). This event will debate these question in synergy with members of the AFCO Committee and the Spinelli Group, who advocate for structural, democratic change.

Event Highlights

• Reflections from MEPs and experts on the state of EU democracy.
• Presentation of the Democratic Odyssey pilot Assembly and its Citizen’s Charter.
• Debate on the feasibility, opportunities, and challenges of a Permanent European Citizens’ Assembly.

Key Participants

• Members of the European Parliament: Sandro Gozi, Daniel Freund, Damien Boeselager and Vice-President Victor Negrescu
• European Commission representatives: Mara Silva Almeida, leading police officer for the future of democracy project at the Joint Research Center of the European Commission
• Democratic Odyssey members: Kalypso Nicolaïdis, Yves Mathieu, Ophelie Masson, Andrea Gaiba, Irene Alonso, Maximilian Fries and Berta Mizsei
• Citizens’ Council members, Djemila Boulasha and Theo Rizos

Practical Information

Venue for on site attendance: European Parliament, Brussels (please write to [email protected])

Registration for online attendance: Click here