Civic Council on European Democracy – Talks Across Europe #2: Palermo, Sicily

National governments all across Europe order their citizens to stay in the confinement of their homes via the freedom-inhibiting curfews. In times of technocratic decision-making and crisis-managing, it is often unclear which information our leaders are basing their verdicts on. How can we as citizens hold our elected officials accountable for their policy implementations?

Especially in this historic crisis, democracies need protection. Citizens need to be able to hold our representatives responsible at a time when their endeavours remain unknown to many Europeans. This begs the question of what we all can do to improve the working of our democracies under the current circumstances.

During these two think tank sessions under the umbrella of the Forum on European Culture, we will critically assess our current democratic systems and come up with concrete recommendations to send to leaders, both at the national and at the European level. The Civic Council will gather for three sessions, spread across three critical locations in Europe.

Programme 12 March 2021

Time: 15:30 - 18:00 CET
Location: Zoom from De Balie, Amsterdam
Programme 13 March 2021

Time: 10:00 - 12:30 CET
Location: Zoom, De Balie, Amsterdam.

Confirmed participants: Lina Issa, Mathieu Segers, Kalypso Nicolaidis, Réka Kinga Papp, Geraldine Schwarz, Simon Strauss, Yoeri Albrecht, Vasyl Cherepanyn, Rytis Zemkauskas, Niccolò Milanese, Virginia Fiume, Yasmine Ouhirane, Andrea Garreffa, Federico Fubini, Lorenzo Castellani, Jamie Mackay, Barbara Leda Kenny, Eric Jozsef and Emma Esini.

In cooperation with European Alternatives, this occasion will involve Sicilian citizens who contribute their insights to the discussion. This is one of the key regions where these topics are of great concern.

Watch the sessions below:

Watch back the sessions from Amsterdam and Warsaw.