First Dome Talk at Democracy Camp in Wels

by | 7. October 2017

The “European Public Sphere” project had its premiere on 29 September 2017. As part of the “More Democracy Camp” in Wels/Austria, we built our Europe Dome in the cultural center “Alter Schlachthof” in Wels and organized a dome talk on the topic “Democracy in Europe”. 

At the center of the discussion was the question of direct democracy in Europe. Formats such as Citizen Councils - randomly selected but mirroring the wide cross-section of the population - were also taken into consideration. Would this also lead to an accepted solution?

Caroline Vernaillen of Democracy International tried to make clear that Citizen Councils are still "representative" and not a form of direct democracy. We were in the middle of the topic and in a lively conversation.

What does real democratic participation need? Josef Zeisel and Ines Kanka from IG-EuroVision emphasized the element of free initiative that every citizen must be able to take with regard to legislation. The initiative is taken by a single person, supported by many and thus becomes socially relevant. In the end, there is the referendum in which everyone can be involved and in which the majority then decides.

How can such a direct-democratic legislative process with initiative, petition and referendum also be transferred to the process of drafting a European Constitution?

It's about overcoming the guardianship principle. Everyone is invited to contribute ideas on which we will then vote together. Only if we have the opportunity to work on and coordinate something together the bridge between individuals will be built Europe could set an example here. Europe will only exist when we can finally say: We have given ourselves a constitution. If that comes about, then there will be Europe!"

Josef Zeisel

Co-founder, European Public Sphere

Video from the first Dome Talk in Wels on 29 September 2017

Submitted proposals would have to be able to collect support on a shared platform, for example, in order to be more widely perceived in the public discussion. The initiatives, then receiving further support would have to be able to enter into one or more draft constitutions. At the end of such a constitutional convention process, a Europe-wide referendum should take place.

One participant in the round still generally objected direct-democratic decision-making. Parties would also serve to form the will but they would ensure that more attention is paid to interrelationships and not to "loose ideas".

Josef Zeisel pleaded to overcome the guardianship principle. Anyone can make proposals but then people work them out and decide on them together. Then there would be many people supporting them. In this way, communities can be formed - bridges between people arise. This is an opportunity for Europe to set an example.

Europe will only exist if we can finally say: “We have given ourselves a constitution. If that comes about, then there will be Europe!”

 

Erwin Leitner, founder and federal spokesman of the "more democracy" association, who as co-organizer was partly responsible for the "More Democracy Camp", saw it as very positive that the "European Public Sphere" came to Wels with its "dome". "The response was very positive. The dome itself is very impressive and it is important to bring in the European dimension so that we see democracy not only in the small sphere but also as a whole".

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Erwin Leitner, Founder and federal spokesman of „mehr demokratie!“

Some impressions from Wels: