AT A GLANCE
EUDEM addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing democracy across the European Union, including democratic backsliding, growing social polarisation, declining trust in institutions, and youth disenchantment with political processes. Across several Member States, civic space is shrinking while citizens increasingly feel disconnected from decision-making mechanisms that directly affect their lives.
The project responds to the need for stronger democratic resilience by creating participatory spaces where citizens, civil society organisations, community leaders, and policymakers can engage in open and structured dialogue. By combining in-situ national events with European-wide online actions, EUDEM bridges local experiences with transnational reflection, fostering mutual learning and cross-border cooperation.
To tackle these challenges, EUDEM develops inclusive participatory methodologies, capacity-building sessions, and innovative digital tools — including an AI-supported survey instrument — to broaden engagement and ensure diverse voices are heard. Through facilitated dialogue, sensemaking processes, and harvest events, the project distils collective insights into practical recommendations, contributing to a more resilient, inclusive, and responsive European democracy.
OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of EUDEM is to strengthen democratic resilience across Europe by fostering inclusive participation, cross-sector collaboration, and structured dialogue between citizens, civil society organisations, and policymakers.
- Identify and address challenges related to democratic backsliding, social polarisation, declining trust in institutions, and youth disengagement from democratic processes.
- Create participatory spaces at local and European levels that enable meaningful civic engagement and encourage active citizenship across diverse communities.
- Develop and implement innovative deliberative methodologies and digital tools, including AI-supported survey instruments, to broaden participation and ensure more inclusive democratic processes.
- Build capacity among citizens, community leaders, and civil society actors by equipping them with practical skills for participatory democracy and policy engagement.
- Facilitate transnational exchange and mutual learning among partners to compare democratic contexts, share practices, and co-create forward-looking recommendations for EU democratic governance.
- Generate evidence-based insights through sensemaking and harvest events, contributing to innovative policymaking and a more resilient and responsive European Union.