FDO in dialoog met het Europees Parlement

Naar aanleiding van "50 jaar verdrag van Rome" organiseert het Europees Parlement op 8 en 9 november een nieuwe vorm van dialoog met de Europese burger: het Agora. Crista Huisman is namens het Forum voor Democratische Ontwikkeling uitgenodigd en zal hierbij aanwezig zijn. Meer informatie vindt u hieronder en op de website http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=66&pageRank=1&language=EN

The original aims of the European project have largely been achieved. Peace, stability and prosperity are now a reality for most Europeans.

Yet beyond reunifying the continent, the European Union now faces new challenges.

This year -- to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome -- the European Parliament has opened up a new forum for dialogue with European Union citizens. Its name is the Agora and its subject is the future of the European Union.

European Parliament response to citizens' demands for greater involvement

Because it is directly elected, Parliament is the European Union institution best qualified to take up the challenge of keeping open the channels of communication with European Union citizens. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are in regular contact with citizens and are directly accountable to voters.

All European Union institutions of course understand the importance of dialogue with citizens as part of the European Union project. Nevertheless, their responses were essentially to do with the debate on Europe’s institutional architecture. Although this issue is vital, it is also important to focus on the day-to-day concerns of ordinary people.

The European Parliament therefore now proposes involving citizens in a permanent dialogue on the European Union's future.

What Europe can do for you - and what you can do for Europe

Revitalising European integration requires a strong link with European Union citizens. It is not enough to tell people that Europe is being built for them - Europe needs to be built with them. Making this idea clear, and acting on it, is absolutely essential to maintaining trust.

The European Parliament wants not just to communicate with citizens, but genuinely to listen to them. Citizens, who act as protagonists, rather than just consumers, may not only transform the nature of the exercise, but also its aims.

Concerted and balanced dialogue will help ensure maximum support for the European Union project. Yet how, in practice, can a meaningful and fruitful debate be held in a Community of almost half a billion people?

Meer informatie is te vinden op http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=66&pageRank=1&language=EN.