EGMONT POLICY BRIEF 336 Defence of Democracy: A Discussion on Democracy and the Path Ahead for a

EGMONT POLICY BRIEF 336 – MARCH 2024 – Defence of Democracy: A Discussion on Democracy and the Path Ahead for a Culture of Participation Ward Den Dooven On the occasion of the European Commission’s release European Citizen Panels in the process of policy design of the Defence of Democracy package (DoD) on 12 – albeit a recent development, difficult to be overturned December 2023, the Egmont Instit. [...] As part of the Egmont Institute’s wider The EU-level is however not alone in recently taking outreach mandate under the Belgian Presidency important steps forward in creating a culture of of the Council of the EU and building upon G1000’s democratic participation. [...] Looking specifically at the longstanding expertise as an innovator in the Belgian case of Belgium, the Ostbelgien model made the democratic landscape and beyond, the purpose was German-speaking community in Belgium the first to to explore the road ahead for this recommendation, enshrine a permanent citizens’ assembly in its decision- under the Belgian Presidency and beyond through making process. [...] In the EU alone, elections will take the CoFoE achieved an important feat: the integration of place across the continent for the European Parliament, EGMONT POLICY BRIEF 336 | DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY: A DISCUSSION ON DEMOCRACY AND THE PATH AHEAD FOR A CULTURE OF PARTICIPATION and on the national level in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, advantages and opportunities as well: most importantly, Finland, Lithu. [...] In an EU some of the trade-offs involved, how to balance on the that is already complex to navigate for those interacting tightrope between the end of the world and the end of with it on a regular basis, such interinstitutional the month.