European Policy Centre’s Post

We are in a crisis of leadership. Institutions and politicians work and act with a short term perspective, when a future view is most needed. Amid a triple planetary crisis and demographic challenges, it is a joint responsibility to call for ambitious intergenerational mechanisms. We support the requests of the Members of the European Parliament and of the Future Generations Initiative to establish effective mechanisms of representation of future generations’ rights in today’s policy making. A Commissioner for Future generations, an intergenerational test on all EU files and an interinstitutional declaration on the rights of Future Generations can really contribute to give the EU the long-term sight it needs. Look at the initiative here: 🌱🤝 Let's make the EU #FitForFutureGenerations

New #publication: Testing Democratic Resilience: Evidence from the United States and Germany by Maria Skóra, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the pillars of democratic resilience in the United States and Germany. It focuses on the sources of resistance against threats to the rule of law and democracy, embracing both legal and institutional factors and social and cultural phenomena. The German and American political systems, societies, and traditions are very different. Therefore, a case study approach was applied, selecting empirical examples within each dimension of democratic resilience to enable comparisons and two-way knowledge transfer. In both the United States and Germany, the growing frustration with polarization and fatigue with partisan competition have not yet damaged the support for democracy, which provides an anchor for democratic resilience. But if combined with continued systemic erosion and institutional weaknesses, the declining social and cultural dimensions of democratic resilience might not be sufficient to prevent and withstand autocratic episodes in the future. Read more: https://lnkd.in/euyEihej

🔥 Hot off the press! I am very excited to present the summary of my research conducted this fall at the American-German Institute. The German and American political systems, societies, and traditions are very different. Yet, both countries are facing similar challenges to democracy. This essay evaluates the pillars of democratic resilience in the United States and Germany, focusing on both legal and institutional factors and its social and cultural determinants. Full text is available here ⬇️

What are the limitations that emded the democratic cohesion in EU today? What are the blind spots in the way that the EC documents address current challenges on European democracy? 🔹As political movements and opposition parties that rely on grievance politics practices are gaining a strong societal foothold, (re)understanding democratic challenges and change in the EU is becoming an urgent academic and policy task. 🔗Follow the link and read prof. Micheal Saward's critical approach toward the current official EU discourse on democratic challenges and change by the EU institutions and his own view for a better understanding of democracy's practices and values under a systemic and design approach. 👇 https://lnkd.in/dMBJg-dN #pledgehorizon #HorizonEU #grievancepolitics #democraticdesign #governance Mikko Salmela Tereza Capelos Emilia Palonen Rūta Kazlauskaitė Tomi Toivio Kanerva Kuokkanen Gavin Sullivan Catarina Kinnvall Christian von Scheve Nikos Stasinopoulos (PhD) Katerina Mandenaki Gulnaz Sharafutdinova Ayhan Kaya Konstantinos Vadratsikas Christina Galani Irene Irene Kalemaki Ioanna Garefi Sofia Kantsiou Karen Celis Thomas Legein Zsolt Nagy Jörn Fritzenkötter Domenico Di Siena Ian Manners

Here is a list of New Year's resolutions that I wish politicians could adopt, inspired from my latest interview with Prof. Daniele Archibugi. 1. Push for cross-border collaboration on issues like climate change. Global problems need global teamwork. 2. Support efforts to make international organizations more democratic. For instance, although I'm French, I still think that some other countries (or the EU) would be more entitled to veto power at the UN than France. 3. Spread democracy through compelling examples, not force. 4. Foster relationships between neighboring communities and nations, turning boundaries into bridges for mutual benefit. 5. People Over Money: Commit to reducing the influence of wealth in politics. Oligarchs are problematic not only in Russia, but also in Western countries such as the US. 6. We got the "Freedom of the Moderns": civil liberties, rule of law, absence of excessive state intervention. It should not dampen the "Freedom of the Ancients": Engage in community decision-making and debates. 7. If democracy feels dull for new generations, they still have political energy, as their activism and local initiatives prove. Make democracy exciting and fulfilling again as it is crucial for peace in the next centuries 8. Make the price of public services more transparent. Not just because it leads to better governance, but also because it is good for the public to realize the real cost of transports, medicine, university... (and adjust expectations) 9. Push for excellence in democratic governance—it must deliver better than alternatives to stay relevant and respected. Deliver what you promise.

Raffaele Fitto's hearing as commissioner designated for #CohesionPolicy was intense and controversial – as expected. It focused on his political integrity, adherence to the rule of law, and commitment to the Green Deal. He held against by embracing diverse opinions and asserted independence from parties and member states. Also his track record on reforming #Cohesion Policy delivery in Italy raised on whether he appraises a similar shift for EU Cohesion Policy towards the more centralised #RRF model. This is to be seen in the context of the leaked plans in October: https://lnkd.in/eT86WfrW He did not provide a definitive answer on the future Cohesion Policy design but stressed the importance of closer links between regions, local governments, and other stakeholders. He highlighted the need to maintain multi-level governance and a place-based approach. The debate covered the full range of the debate, including balancing long-term development and prevention with short-term flexibility and crisis response, learning from the RRF, and announced reforms by 2026. I wrote an overview on the debate in June: https://lnkd.in/eJkPR6dK He promised to improve democratic control by the European Parliament and involve the #EESC and #CoR, acknowledging RRF design flaws and responding to pressure. The latter leaded also to upgrading the cohesion commissioner to vice president. Still, there are open questions which need to be addressed in the making. These include: ⚠️ If we discuss the role of regions in Cohesion Policy, what should be the role of member states in multilevel governance? ⚠️ How can it be ensured that conditionality in Cohesion Policy does not lead to regions being held responsible for their member states' failures in meeting conditions? ⚠️ How can there be a greater focus on trans-border projects with significant impacts across Europe? ⚠️ And, most importantly, what is the future affordability of Cohesion Policy given new policy priorities?

On the eve of the definition of the new Political Guidelines of the European Commission for the 2024-2029 legislature, together with other civil society organisations organisations and @CONCORD’s Confederation we sent an open letter to the nominated President of the @European Commission, Ms @Ursula von der Leyen to raise the concerns and proposals of European civil society organisations working on international cooperation and sustainable development. In view of the worrying shift in the EU's foreign policy in recent years, increasingly driven by short-term economic self-interest and security concerns, European civil society calls on the new European Commission to deliver on its commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals as set out in the 2030 Agenda, building trust with partner countries, working for global well-being, peace and stability, with the reduction of inequalities at its core.   The European Union must maintain its leading position as a global partner for the #SDGs, but these objectives cannot be achieved without an active role for civil society in Europe and globally. Civil society organisations are crucial allies in the efforts to promote sustainable human, social and economic development in Europe and beyond. We expect the @European Commission to engage with civil society as meaningful and equal partners who can positively contribute to EU policy elaboration, implementation and oversight. You can read the full open letter at CONCORD’s website ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ePFPFq6D 

🌐 The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) at a Crossroads 🌐 A recent discussion initiated by Bruno Kaufmann suggests that the ECI, a unique democratic instrument allowing European citizens to propose legislation, may be positioned for significant growth. As it approaches its 13th anniversary, the ECI could potentially enable EU-wide referendums by the decade's end. Kaufmann shares a critical viewpoint on democracy's global state, noting a decline in democratic governance worldwide, despite more people being able to vote. Criticism of the ECI has labeled it as overly complex and lacking engagement. However, Kaufmann urges for a bolder approach to strengthening democracy beyond merely resisting authoritarian tendencies. He views the ECI as a unique and historically significant tool that is digital, democratic, and transnational, calling for its advancement to empower citizens further and renew democratic processes within the European Union. Discover more about the ECI’s journey in Bruno Kaufmann's article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dw5XrYka Drawing from our Swiss roots with politik.ch, where referendums have been a democratic staple since 1874 (and celebrating their 150th anniversary today), we at SAVOIRR understand the impact of direct civic participation. Our platform complements this by providing detailed policy monitoring, enabling public affairs professionals to stay adept and proactive. Let's continue the conversation around democratic tools and their evolution. What are your thoughts on expanding citizens' abilities to influence policy directly? #ECI #Democracy #EuropeanUnion #PolicyMonitoring #Savoirr #politikCH

Emma Ashford, a columnist at Foreign Policy and a senior fellow with the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center, and Matthew Kroenig, a columnist at Foreign Policy and vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security explore the growing political dysfunction in democratic systems worldwide, highlighting crises in France, Germany, South Korea, and other U.S. allies. France is facing governmental collapse after a no-confidence vote, with President Macron unable to dissolve parliament or form a stable coalition, causing severe legislative gridlock. Germany is similarly paralyzed, with coalition politics delaying governance. In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law amidst political turmoil, only to face overwhelming parliamentary rejection. These issues underscore the challenges of different governance systems—parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential—all struggling to address modern economic, social, and geopolitical pressures. The authors draw comparisons between systemic failures, noting that democratic systems may no longer effectively respond to current crises. They question whether reforms or more radical overhauls are necessary, as leaders in these democracies often find themselves out of sync with public sentiment, exacerbating instability. This dysfunction, they argue, could weaken geopolitical alliances and threaten the global balance of power, particularly as authoritarian regimes capitalize on democratic instability. https://lnkd.in/guMCHXcK

Emma Ashford, a columnist at Foreign Policy and a senior fellow with the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center, and Matthew Kroenig, a columnist at Foreign Policy and vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security explore the growing political dysfunction in democratic systems worldwide, highlighting crises in France, Germany, South Korea, and other U.S. allies. France is facing governmental collapse after a no-confidence vote, with President Macron unable to dissolve parliament or form a stable coalition, causing severe legislative gridlock. Germany is similarly paralyzed, with coalition politics delaying governance. In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law amidst political turmoil, only to face overwhelming parliamentary rejection. These issues underscore the challenges of different governance systems—parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential—all struggling to address modern economic, social, and geopolitical pressures. The authors draw comparisons between systemic failures, noting that democratic systems may no longer effectively respond to current crises. They question whether reforms or more radical overhauls are necessary, as leaders in these democracies often find themselves out of sync with public sentiment, exacerbating instability. This dysfunction, they argue, could weaken geopolitical alliances and threaten the global balance of power, particularly as authoritarian regimes capitalize on democratic instability. https://lnkd.in/guMCHXcK