European Public Sphere

ACT WOW at Artlake Festival
2020-02-27 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Berlin) | Bergheider Lake, Bergheider Straße 4, Lichterfeld, 03238, Germany
From 6 to 9 August, the European Public Sphere has a very special stop: We will join the Artlake Festival!
On four days, musicians, artists, creative souls, utopians and activists gather in the former lignite mines at „Bergheider See” to exchange ideas about the essential topics of today and tomorrow, to learn from each other and to celebrate together. The Artlake Festival sees itself as an interdisciplinary platform which promotes creative and conscious participation as well as artistic positions and suggestions for social discourse far away from well-known institutionalized structures. Everyone can join, create, think, discuss and dance. The festival stands for a progressive pop and club culture that takes a stand. It reflects and promotes a diverse society at the interface of music, art and social policy – a space to experiment with new talents, thoughts and approaches.
This year’s motto is ACT WOW! We have to take radical steps to receive a significant transformation of our future. We all have to be role models and act as a collective society. We must become aware of our responsibility, that we must pave the way to a livable world.
So let’s come together under the Europe Dome to develop strategies within the different dimensions, disciplines and formats. Let us make a change in our behavior and discuss how to act now and at the same time act wow!

First virtual Public Sphere!
2020-05-11 15:00 - 16:30 | First virtual Public Sphere!
The time has come for our first European Public Sphere in times of Corona! On 11 May, we’re coming together in the digital space. Join in and discuss with people from all over Europe in what might become perhaps our most international round table! The topic: the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and our citizens’ rights guaranteed therein.
This year, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which brings together personal, civic, political, economic and social rights, turns 20 years old. In a single text, these rights are enjoyed by every citizen in the EU. Citizens’ rights receives its own chapter as the fifth in a set of seven chapters.
As part of the Connect Europe project with 7 civil society organisations, we aim to connect citizens to the EU Charter and celebrate its accomplishments across 20 years. Let’s look at the Charter’s successes, as well as practically examine where the Charter could be modernised to fit a 21st century Europe that is battling populism and anti-EU rhetoric, and more timely, a Charter that protects citizens’ rights in times of international crisis. Member of European Parliament Daniel Freund, Marie Jünnemann from Mehr Demokratie, and Helen Darbishire from Access Info Europe will provide some initial input to spark the discussion! As usual, the Dome Talk will be recorded.
Please register here to receive the invitation link: www.democracy.community/forms/registration-online-connect-europe
Looking forward to seeing you at our first virtual European Public Sphere ever!

Cologne connects Europe - cancelled
2020-05-12 | Bahnhofsvorplatz Köln Hbf, Bahnhofsvorplatz Köln Hbf, Köln, Germany
Due to the Corona-crisis, this event cannot take place as planned. Instead, we would like to invite you to our first online Public Sphere ever on 11 May. You can find more info and the registration link here.
On 12 May the time has come: the European Public Sphere season starts!
6 partner organisations from Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland and Belgium will visit Democracy International in Cologne through our the Connect Europe project. Together we want to explore what our future in Europe should look like.
What is Connect Europe?
In 2020 the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights will celebrate its 20th anniversary. In order to make it more present and relevant, each partner organisation takes on one of the 6 chapters and organises an event on the topic in its home country. The focus is an open discussion with citizens about the six fundamental rights of the Charter: Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens’ Rights, Justice.
Democracy International invites you to exchange views on the fundamental right “citizens’ rights” on the forecourt of Cologne Central Station!
Additionally, the evening before the Dome Talks a free and open panel discussion with representatives from civil society, the city of Cologne and the European Parliament (tbc) will take place.
Further information will follow soon. You can find out more about Connect Europe here: https://www.eurights.org
We are looking forward to seeing you!
