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In April, CTOE launched its Democratic Manifesto, with 10 major democratic demands that - according to the many civil society organisations that are part of CTOE - are of essence in order to push the democracy of the European Union forward. We now – in a timely manner – compared the 2024 European Party manifestos with our 10 democratic points. 

About the CTOE coalition

Citizens Take Over Europe emerged in the spring 2020 amidst the recent Covid-19 pandemia, in which we recognized how much the lack of European democracy is deeply affecting our lives. We are a group of civil society organizations, citizens and residents from across Europe, joined in a common effort to promote a forward-looking and citizens-centered European democracy.

Our story and vision
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Our story and vision

10 principles for a citizen-centered Conference on the Future of Europe

In July 2019, Ursula von der Leyen announced her intention to convene a two-year Conference on the Future of Europe, with the proclaimed aim to involve “citizens, including a significant role for young people, civil society and European institutions as equal partners.” We, the Citizens Take Over Europe coalition, welcome this proposal to “give citizens their say” by means of a structured transnational participatory process. However, it needs to be done right in order to have the intended effect. By means of the 10 principles below, we want to make our contribution to the institutional deliberations on how to shape the Conference on the Future of Europe (hereafter: the Conference).

1. Participatory

EU citizens and residents, including notably young people, should have the opportunity to shape the Conference at every step of its development, starting with the decisions on the design, scope and objectives of the Conference, as well as the status of its public input into EU decision-making.

2. Inclusive

Participation in the Conference should be inclusive. All participatory channels must be open to both EU citizens and EU residents. The citizens’ assemblies must be composed by means of stratified random selection, ensuring a balanced representation of people from different ages, genders, countries of residence, socio-economic backgrounds, and with different attitudes towards the EU (ranging from very positive to very negative).

3. Open

The Conference should have the freedom to set its own agenda and to put forward every possible proposal for the future of Europe, with all options on the table, including treaty changes, and without pre-emption of any of the outcomes of the discussion. The Conference should have the power to decide its own rules and proceedings and possible additional participatory instruments.

4. Deliberative

The Conference should maximise opportunities for dialogue, deliberation and contestation among citizens, between citizens and politicians, and with other stakeholders including relevant experts.

5. Transnational

The Conference should maximize opportunities for interaction, deliberation and collaboration among people from different countries. All participatory instruments should be transnational.

6. Transparent

All official Conference-related meetings and events should be livestreamed, recorded and made publicly available. All official Conference-related documents should be made publicly available in at least all official EU languages on a single online platform.

7. Accountable

The Conference Plenary should be accountable to the public at large by providing citizens with clear written feedback on the input developed by means of the participatory instruments of the Conference.

8. Effective

Prior to the start of the Conference, the EU institutions should commit themselves to following up on the resolutions to be adopted by the Conference. National, regional and local authorities should be invited to make a similar commitment.

9. Visible

Local, regional, national and EU authorities should use all available means to publicise the Conference and Conference-related events. They should actively seek to generate media interest in the Conference. In addition to analogue communication, digital technologies should be used to multiply outreach. The Conference should have its own visual identity, and set up a single online platform that should function as the ‘online hub’ of the Conference.

10. Attractive

The Conference should demonstrate that politics is intrinsically connected to other spheres of life, such as arts and culture. In order to showcase this, a number of transnational festivals should be set up as part of the Conference, aimed at reaching the widest possible audience.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

Your time to vote!

We want to know your opinion, ideas and suggestions about the future of Europe. Every week, a new key question on European Democracy proposed by the Coalition will be released on this website. Have a say about the future of Europe!

Do you know what the Conference on the Future of Europe is?

In July 2019, Ursula von der Leyen announced her intention to convene a two-year Conference on the Future of Europe, with the proclaimed aim to involve “citizens, including a significant role for young people, civil society and European institutions as equal partners.” But does actually people know what the Conference is about?

    Maps of events

    Citizens Take Over Europe organises and participates in many events and assemblies across Europe and beyond. Our events are online, physical gatherings and hybrid, and include conferences, open debates, assemblies, book presentations, and much more! Check out our past and upcoming events, and come to meet us!

    Upcoming events Past events

    Physical events

    Physical events

    Transnational Citizens’ Assembly on End-of-Life Decisions
    Europe from Below: Peace, Democracy and Rule of Law
    Rethinking Alter-Globalisation: The Advent of Planetary Politics?
    ReeL Festival
    Lunch debate – Convention for a people-powered Europe: The future of democratic participation
    Assemblies of Solidarity in Strasbourgh
    Should vital medical products (such as vaccines) only be exported from the EU once European citizens have been supplied?
    Transeuropa Festival
    War in Europe: is EU fit to fight for peace?
    The invasion of Ukraine: duties and responsabilities of the EU towards Ukrainian refugees
    Power to the People How can Europe work for everyone?
    Women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights in Poland
    For a permanent EU citizens assembly : Why? When? How?
    Impact of COVID19 on women from an intergenerational and intersectional perspective
    What is the conference on the future of Europe and why does it matter?
    Women’s rights and gender equality in the context of the covid-19 pandemic: education, campaigning and information sharing
    A European Citizens’ Assembly: A New Institution for the Future of Europe
    Participatory democracy in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe: review of the mid-term reports and digital engagement
    Insights into mechanisms of participatory democracy
    Between Land and Sea
    Civic engagement and utopias: opening the decision-making processes
    Civic engagement and utopias: opening the decision-making processes
    Physical and mental health amongst migration communities
    School of Resistance: leave no one behind
    Leave no one behind
    School of Resistance – For a Politics of Justice!
    School of Resistance: leave no one behind
    Methods of participating in the deliberative process in the EU for young people: the role of national level education in EU literacy
    Methods of participating in the deliberative process in the EU for young people: the role of national level education in EU literacy
    Physical and mental health amongst migration communities
    Digital rights: e-democracy, cyber security and digital inclusion
    How to promote sustainable tourism in the Black Sea region? How to fight energy poverty at local (Constanta), national (Romania) and EU level?
    Sustainability in the Black Sea region
    Agriculture and social rights
    Climate and participative democracy
    EU Green Deal: challenges for business and labor
    Raising awareness about the SDGs and the welcoming of refugees
    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE
    Regional development and EU literacy: building an inlcusive Union
    SDGs and migrants rights
    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE
    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE
    Youth in Politics
    New beginnings and the future we want: an outdoor conversation
    New beginnings and the future we want: an outdoor conversation
    New Beginnings: sustainable ways of living in the EU
    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE
    Sustainability and well-being: show me what your EU looks like
    Insurgent europeanism
    European Citizens Assemblies at Centre of Future of Europe
    Strenghtening transnational representative democracy; Developping citizens political participation; Bringing direct democracy tools in
    assembraMenti – Clima, lavoro, inclusione
    How can we involve younger generations in the debate and discussions about the future of Europe? What do you think are our main challenges?

    Online events

    Online events

    SERPENTINES! – A new future for Europe’s regions
    Workshop: how to discuss the future of Europe among different generations?
    War in Europe: is EU fit to fight for peace?
    Power to the People – How can Europe work for everyone?
    Unmuted: MEPs on the Conference on the Future of Europe
    We are ready for Conference on Future of Europe are you?
    For a Permanent EU Citizens’ Assembly: Why, When, How?
    For a permanent EU citizens assembly : Why? When? How?
    Making rights inclusive for all after the pandemic
    Participatory democracy in the context of the CoFoE
    Limitations of rights in times of the Covid-19 pandemic
    Youth engagement and the future of Europe
    Physical and mental health amongst migration communities
    Health rights and feminism in Europe
    Workers Without Borders in Conversation with EU Policy Makers
    Workers right in the platform economy
    Digital rights: e-democracy, cyber security and digital inclusion
    Workers Without Borders: Agricultural Workers in the Food Industry
    Agriculture and social rights
    Climate and participative democracy
    EU Green Deal Herausforderungen für Wirtschaft und Arbeit Bereit für die Challenge?
    EU Green Deal- Challenges for Business and Labor. Ready for the Challenge?
    Sustainability and climate change: the role of youth in the EU
    LAUNCH EVENT OF THE CROSS-PARTY GROUP OF MEPs ON EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP
    Framtidssamtal utomhus
    Europe in the making – exercising forms of engagement at local and EU level
    Framtidssamtal utomhus
    Care Workers in the Health Sector
    Europe Day
    Europe Day
    Europe Day: the Assemblies of Solidarity consultation
    Delivery Workers in the Platform Economy
    The Rise of Insurgent Europeanism
    Insurgent europeanism
    European Citizens Assemblies and the Future of Europe
    European Citizens Assemblies at Centre of Future of Europe
    Citizens Take Over Europe x Conference on the Future of Europe 1.0
    Digital democracy: a framework for European democracy
    CTOE Europe Week | For a citizens centered conference on the future of Europe
    Citizen Participation in Democratic Europe: What Next for the EU?
    Protecting communities most affected by Covid-19
    Artists and inlfuencers: innovative narratives on democracy
    Democracy literacy and the role of formal education
    A citizens’ centered Conference on the Future of Europe

    Athens

    Physical and mental health amongst migration communities

    Sep 30th 30th 2021
    Go to event

    Physical and mental health amongst migration communities

    Sep 30th 2021
    Go to event

    Physical and mental health amongst migration communities

    Sep 3rd 2021
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    Close

    Barcelona

    Impact of COVID19 on women from an intergenerational and intersectional perspective

    Dec 9th 9th 2021 6:00 pm
    Go to event

    Women’s rights and gender equality in the context of the covid-19 pandemic: education, campaigning and information sharing

    Dec 9th 2021
    Go to event

    Health rights and feminism in Europe

    Sep 28th Jul 28th 2021 10:00 am
    Go to event
    Close

    Berlin

    Agriculture and social rights

    Jul 1st 2021
    Go to event

    Agriculture and social rights

    Jul 1st 2021
    Go to event

    EU Green Deal- Challenges for Business and Labor. Ready for the Challenge?

    Jun 28th 2021
    Go to event

    EU Green Deal: challenges for business and labor

    Jun 28th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Bochum

    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE

    Jun 23rd 2021
    Go to event

    Youth in Politics

    Jun 23rd 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Brussels

    Workshop: how to discuss the future of Europe among different generations?

    Dec 20th 2022 7:00 pm
    Go to event

    Transnational Citizens’ Assembly on End-of-Life Decisions

    Dec 6th 6th 2022 2:30 pm
    Go to event

    Should vital medical products (such as vaccines) only be exported from the EU once European citizens have been supplied?

    Apr 24th 2022
    Go to event

    War in Europe: is EU fit to fight for peace?

    Apr 21st 2022
    Go to event

    War in Europe: is EU fit to fight for peace?

    Apr 21st 2022
    Go to event

    The invasion of Ukraine: duties and responsabilities of the EU towards Ukrainian refugees

    Mar 29th 2022
    Go to event

    Power to the People How can Europe work for everyone?

    Mar 21st 2022
    Go to event

    Power to the People – How can Europe work for everyone?

    Mar 17th 2022
    Go to event

    We are ready for Conference on Future of Europe are you?

    Jan 15th 2022
    Go to event

    For a permanent EU citizens assembly : Why? When? How?

    Dec 15th 2021
    Go to event

    For a permanent EU citizens assembly : Why? When? How?

    Dec 6th 2021
    Go to event

    A European Citizens’ Assembly: A New Institution for the Future of Europe

    Dec 2nd 2nd 2021 12:00 pm
    Go to event

    Participatory democracy in the context of the CoFoE

    Oct 28th 28th 2021
    Go to event

    Participatory democracy in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe: review of the mid-term reports and digital engagement

    Oct 28th 2021
    Go to event

    Insights into mechanisms of participatory democracy

    Oct 28th 2021
    Go to event

    Limitations of rights in times of the Covid-19 pandemic

    Oct 12th 2021
    Go to event

    Workers right in the platform economy

    Sep 23rd 2021
    Go to event

    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE

    Jun 23rd 2021
    Go to event

    Sustainability and climate change: the role of youth in the EU

    Jun 23rd 2021
    Go to event

    New beginnings and the future we want: an outdoor conversation

    Jun 17th 2021
    Go to event

    Europe Day

    May 9th 2021
    Go to event

    Europe Day: the Assemblies of Solidarity consultation

    May 9th 2021
    Go to event

    Insurgent europeanism

    May 7th 2021
    Go to event

    Insurgent europeanism

    May 7th 2021
    Go to event

    European Citizens Assemblies at Centre of Future of Europe

    May 6th 2021
    Go to event

    European Citizens Assemblies at Centre of Future of Europe

    May 6th 2021
    Go to event

    Strenghtening transnational representative democracy; Developping citizens political participation; Bringing direct democracy tools in

    May 5th 2021
    Go to event

    Digital democracy: a framework for European democracy

    May 5th 2021
    Go to event

    Protecting communities most affected by Covid-19

    Apr 24th 2021
    Go to event

    Artists and inlfuencers: innovative narratives on democracy

    Apr 13th 2021
    Go to event

    How can we involve younger generations in the debate and discussions about the future of Europe? What do you think are our main challenges?

    Apr 10th 2021
    Go to event

    Democracy literacy and the role of formal education

    Apr 10th 2021
    Go to event

    A citizens’ centered Conference on the Future of Europe

    Jan 13th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Calabria

    assembraMenti – Clima, lavoro, inclusione

    Apr 16th 17th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Cologne

    School of Resistance: leave no one behind

    Sep 25th 2021
    Go to event

    Leave no one behind

    Sep 25th 2021
    Go to event

    School of Resistance – For a Politics of Justice!

    Sep 24th 25th 2021
    Go to event

    School of Resistance: leave no one behind

    Sep 24th 25th 2021
    Go to event

    Climate and participative democracy

    Jun 29th 2021
    Go to event

    Climate and participative democracy

    Jun 29th 2021
    Go to event

    EU Green Deal Herausforderungen für Wirtschaft und Arbeit Bereit für die Challenge?

    Jun 28th 2021 7:00 pm
    Go to event

    Citizens Take Over Europe x Conference on the Future of Europe 1.0

    May 5th 2021 5:00 pm
    Go to event
    Close

    Constanta

    How to promote sustainable tourism in the Black Sea region? How to fight energy poverty at local (Constanta), national (Romania) and EU level?

    Aug 19th 2021
    Go to event

    Sustainability in the Black Sea region

    Aug 19th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Florence

    Europe from Below: Peace, Democracy and Rule of Law

    Nov 11th 2022 11:00 am
    Go to event

    Rethinking Alter-Globalisation: The Advent of Planetary Politics?

    Nov 11th 11th 2022 5:30 pm
    Go to event

    Unmuted: MEPs on the Conference on the Future of Europe

    Jan 27th 27th 2022 5:30 pm
    Go to event

    What is the conference on the future of Europe and why does it matter?

    Dec 9th 9th 2021 4:30 pm
    Go to event

    For a Permanent EU Citizens’ Assembly: Why, When, How?

    Dec 6th 6th 2021 5:00 pm
    Go to event
    Close

    Gothenburg

    Framtidssamtal utomhus

    Jun 17th 17th 2021 5:00 pm
    Go to event

    Framtidssamtal utomhus

    Jun 15th 15th 2021
    Go to event

    New beginnings and the future we want: an outdoor conversation

    Jun 15th 2021
    Go to event

    New Beginnings: sustainable ways of living in the EU

    Jun 15th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Liege

    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE

    Jun 25th 2021
    Go to event

    Regional development and EU literacy: building an inlcusive Union

    Jun 25th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    London

    Workers Without Borders: Agricultural Workers in the Food Industry

    Jul 1st 1st 2021 7:00 pm
    Go to event

    Care Workers in the Health Sector

    May 26th 26th 2021 7:00 pm
    Go to event

    Europe Day

    May 9th 2021 7:00 pm
    Go to event

    Delivery Workers in the Platform Economy

    May 8th 2021 6:00 pm
    Go to event

    The Rise of Insurgent Europeanism

    May 7th 2021 4:00 pm
    Go to event

    Citizen Participation in Democratic Europe: What Next for the EU?

    May 4th 4th 2021 4:00 pm
    Go to event
    Close

    Palermo

    Between Land and Sea

    Oct 19th 24th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Paris

    Workers Without Borders in Conversation with EU Policy Makers

    Sep 23rd 23rd 2021 2:00 pm
    Go to event

    Digital rights: e-democracy, cyber security and digital inclusion

    Aug 24th 2021
    Go to event

    Digital rights: e-democracy, cyber security and digital inclusion

    Aug 24th 2021
    Go to event

    European Citizens Assemblies and the Future of Europe

    May 6th 2021 5:30 pm
    Go to event
    Close

    Pordedone

    Combining awareness-raising about CoFoE

    Jun 1st 2021
    Go to event

    Sustainability and well-being: show me what your EU looks like

    Jun 1st 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Porto

    Transeuropa Festival

    Apr 21st 25th 2022
    Go to event

    Civic engagement and utopias: opening the decision-making processes

    Oct 11th 2021
    Go to event

    Civic engagement and utopias: opening the decision-making processes

    Oct 11th 2021
    Go to event

    Raising awareness about the SDGs and the welcoming of refugees

    Jun 25th 2021
    Go to event

    SDGs and migrants rights

    Jun 25th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Roma

    CTOE Europe Week | For a citizens centered conference on the future of Europe

    May 4th 9th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Stockholm

    New beginnings and the future we want: an outdoor conversation

    Jun 17th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Strasbourg

    Lunch debate – Convention for a people-powered Europe: The future of democratic participation

    May 7th 7th 2022
    Go to event

    Assemblies of Solidarity in Strasbourgh

    May 7th 2022
    Go to event

    Youth engagement and the future of Europe

    Oct 8th 8th 2021
    Go to event

    LAUNCH EVENT OF THE CROSS-PARTY GROUP OF MEPs ON EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

    Jun 18th 18th 2021
    Go to event

    Europe in the making – exercising forms of engagement at local and EU level

    Jun 17th 17th 2021 10:00 am
    Go to event
    Close

    Vienna

    Making rights inclusive for all after the pandemic

    Nov 11th 11th 2021
    Go to event
    Close

    Villeurbanne

    ReeL Festival

    Jun 4th 2022
    Go to event
    Close

    Warsaw

    Women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights in Poland

    Mar 12th 2022
    Go to event

    Methods of participating in the deliberative process in the EU for young people: the role of national level education in EU literacy

    Sep 16th 2021
    Go to event

    Methods of participating in the deliberative process in the EU for young people: the role of national level education in EU literacy

    Sep 16th 2021
    Go to event
    Close