The Travelling Assembly
Towards a permanent Peoples' Assembly for Europe
→ Agenda Setting: As a pilot assembly, we are not focused on specific policy recommendations but on exploring democratic responses to crises, which we call "storms." Crises highlight who holds power and can be opportunities for more citizen involvement.
→ Focus on Democratic Practices: We explore how the EU can better engage citizens during crises, addressing challenges like alienation and anger. We’ll consider past experiences, asking what democratic practices should change, be discarded, or institutionalized to improve Europe’s response.
→ A Laboratory for Change: This assembly is an experiment in moving from individual to collective action, aiming to influence democratic practices within EU institutions.
→ Storytelling and Civic Arts: We start with lived experiences rather than experts, using storytelling and civic arts to bring these narratives to life.
→ Connecting Beyond Borders: With participants from around 20 countries, we explore how to build transnational connections that empower citizens across Europe, beyond just Brussels-led initiatives.
→ Rooted in Local and Transnational Democracy: We connect local actions with broader European politics, aiming to bridge the gap between local communities and transnational efforts.
→ Addressing Long-Term and Absent Voices: We seek to democratize foresight, balancing present needs with future outcomes, and consider how to include the voices of those absent from current debates, like refugees, non-citizens, and future generations.