Försvar av demokratin
Opinion factsheet
På denna sida
- Konstitutionella och institutionella frågor
- Desinformation
- EU:s kommunikationspolitik
- Europas framtid
- Rättsliga och inrikes frågor
- Medborgarskap
Opinion number:
CDR-0087-2024
Status:
Antagna
Objective
to call for setting up a place-based mechanism for dialogue with citizens, supported by local and regional authorities, that will ensure two-way communication between the citizens and the EU institutions
to note the value of existing CoR programmes and initiatives, including the Network of Regional and Local Councillors, the Young Elected Politicians and the Charter on Youth and Democracy
to call for a greater coherence of initiatives aiming to safeguard democracy at the European level
to call for modifications to the proposed Directive on transparency of foreign interest representation, in order to ensure the introduction of proportionate transparency standards and avoid possible unintended consequences limiting the civic and political space in the EU
.
to note the value of existing CoR programmes and initiatives, including the Network of Regional and Local Councillors, the Young Elected Politicians and the Charter on Youth and Democracy
to call for a greater coherence of initiatives aiming to safeguard democracy at the European level
to call for modifications to the proposed Directive on transparency of foreign interest representation, in order to ensure the introduction of proportionate transparency standards and avoid possible unintended consequences limiting the civic and political space in the EU
.
Impact
In its follow-up report to the CoR opinion on the Defence of democracy, and in the context of the CoR's call to further strenghten the dialogue with citizens, the European Commission recognised the need to further connect the pan-European engagement activities with the local level. In line with the CoR's recommendation, the Commission commits to organising a session of the European cooperation network on elections dedicated to local and regional elections. In view of strenghtening communication between EU institutions and citizens, the Commission refers to the joint common project of the EU Local Councillors network (EULC), which would aim to increase citizens' ownership of the European project thanks to the involvement of their locally elected politicians. With regard to the proposed Directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries, the Commission concurred with the CoR's condemnation of any undue limitation on fundamental freedoms and restrictions on civic and political space in violation of international human rights law, and the fact that increased transparency requirements should target activities that are genuinely likely to have a significant influence on public life and public debate.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- Firmly supports all efforts to nurture, protect and strengthen European democracy, and to better equip societies and public authorities with the means to respond to common external threats to the democratic process;
- Points out that local and regional authorities have specific knowledge with regard to identifying potential threats to the integrity of democratic processes and that they help to strengthen European democracy by promoting and facilitating the participation of citizens in public life and thereby in European, national, regional and local elections. Regrets the lack of recognition of this in initiatives aiming to strengthen European democracy presented at EU level;
- Reiterates its call to set up a place-based mechanism for dialogue with citizens, supported by local and regional authorities, that will ensure two-way communication between the citizens and the EU institutions;
- Supports all efforts to further enhance the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections of the European Parliament; emphasises the importance of local and regional authorities in providing all groups of citizens, including younger people and citizens who find themselves in vulnerable situations with information on basic rules and practical arrangements related to the exercise of their electoral rights; and advocates for initiatives that support women’s equal participation in the electoral process, both as voters and candidates;
- Remains committed to strengthening communication between the EU institutions, local communities and citizens through the its Network of Regional and Local Councillors, the organisation of local dialogues and the involvement of Young Elected Politicians in CoR activities;
- Expresses concern about the possible impact of the proposed Directive, which could result in unintended and disproportionate consequences while not efficiently capturing the real threats to democracy;
- Calls on the European Commission to prioritise collaboration with local and regional authorities in order to effectively safeguard democracy in the EU.