The European Citizens Network
The Problem
Citizens are increasingly well educated and informed, yet are still treated as left aside by political élites. This is the paradox of modern western democratic political systems.
In elections, citizens are expected to choose between institutionalised and outdated ideologies. In referenda, they can answer yes or no to complicated issues. Their choices matter very little in practice as the difference between political parties becomes increasingly narrow.
The result is that the citizen feels excluded and disillusioned. This is especially the case in the European Union, where the logic of intergovernmental secrecy and centralised decision making systems prevail.
The reactions are two-fold. Some become apathetic and give-up any attempt to influence politics, playing a passive role in society. Others turn to simplified and sometimes violent solutions. Both reactions are equally dangerous.
The democratic deficit must be filled and the European political agenda must be based on the active participation of citizens.
The approach
In 1999 the “Herzog” Convention was employed as a method to draw-up the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Convention brought together state representatives, over nine months to work on a text. Rather than being constrained by the defence of national interests, present in intergovernmental conferences, they worked together, seated alphabetically in a General Assembly, under the Presidency of Roman Herzog, the former President of the German Federal Republic. The result was a specific text that formed the Charter of Fundamental Rights (www.europarl.eu.int/charter).
This method was adapted by the Convention of Young European Citizens held in Cluny, 9th-15th of July 2001, with the aim of assessing its applicability to citizens’ participation. The Convention, held at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers (ENSAM), brought together seventy-one young Europeans aged 18 to 30 from the Member States and applicant Member States, all non-experts, with the aim of producing a European Constitution. The process was different from the “Herzog” Convention, dividing participants into seven Commissions dealing with the specific areas of the Constitution, based on sections of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights and a simplified version of the Basic Treaty of the European Union, compiled by the European University Institute, Florence. The Commissions lasted for three days debating areas of the Constitution and analysing the texts. Participation in each Commission was voluntary with free choice between areas. After three days in Commissions, the seventy-one citizens then proceeded to a three days General Assembly, debating the specific proposals of each Commissions and proposing amendments to the text. Throughout the process, experts were available for consultation but without direct input into the decision-making process. In just six days seventy-one non-expert young European citizens form twenty-six different countries managed to work and cooperate sufficiently to produce a draft text on the European Union Constitution, through mutual respect and cooperation. In spite of diverse cultures, values and traditions, consensus was reached through structured debate in English and French, voting on amendments and sections of the text.
The text will be presented by two representatives of the Convention at the Economic and Social Committee of the European Union in Brussels. It will also be printed on both the European Union’s website (http://europa.eu.int/futurum) and the European Commission’s website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm). The Commission provided sponsorship and translation of the text into all of the official languages of the European Union.
The Convention and the process have demonstrated the potential for an active dialogue and relationship between the European citizens and the European institutions.
The debate
We, as citizen of the European Union and participants in the Convention of Young European Citizens felt that the representative democratic system must be reformed. We believe that the citizens of Europe should have a voice and be able to have influence on the creation of Europe.
Since the old channels of influence fail to provide genuine representation and active participation, new ones must be created.
We worked together as citizens for a short period of time, on a clearly defined subject. Negotiations and debates were structured in a way designed to build consensus. We have produced a specific text showing the proposals and recommendations of the Convention.
However, we are fully aware of the limitations of our work and the method we applied. We therefore resolve to develop a dialogue on a possible method to improve citizen participation.
Project
The European Citizens Network
1. aims to provide a direct dialogue with the EU’s institutionalised political structure,
2. will develop links with European political institutions, as well as being active on a regional and national level,
3. will be open to innovative and progressive academic ideas as well as developing conventions, aimed at improving participation,
4. will be independent from all political parties, trade unions or private interest groups and will only accept funding in accordance with this principle.
TASK DISTRIBUTION
THE ORGANIZATION AT EUROPEAN LEVEL
President: Alexander Betts
AlexBetts111@hotmail.com
Vice-President: Luca Copetti
Luca.Copetti@chello.be
Members
Legal: Inês Caetano
Ivc@net.sapo.pt
Academic: Maximilian Kirchner
Maxkbi@aol.com
Finance: Elizabete Ernstone
Elizabete.ernstone@keble.ox.ac.uk
Media & Public Relations: Konstantinos Bogdanos
Cbogdanos@yahoo.com
Networking: Francesco Marchi
Francescomarchi@hotmail.com
Informations Technology: Gaetan Gregoire
Gregoire.gaetan@voilà.fr
Commissions
All participants are invited to sign up to one of the commissions according to their specific skills
LEGAL1. Create an organization with legal status at a European level2. Legal Advice
ACADEMIC1. Create support and interaction with academics2 Analyse and apply methods of developing citizens participation
FINANCEFund raising
MEDIA & PR
NETWORKING Contacts w/ European Institutions will be essential to obtain support (financial and institutional)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY1. Creation of a website2. Website maintenance
THE ORGANIZATION AT COUNTRY LEVEL
1. Each country team should elect the following list:
– President
– Responsible for Academic Network
– Responsible for Financial Network
2. Main objectives to be achieved
– presenting the Constitution to experts, obtaining opinions on it
– obtaining financial support for the organization (by contacting Ministries, Public Institutions, etc.)
– forwarding a monthly summary of activities to website.
– after obtaining funds, an association with legal personality might be created at national level (for that purpose, it will be necessary to obtain local information on legal requirements, such as public deed, registrar, etc.)
