Strengthening democracy by the #EUCivilDialogueNow initiative: a call for a better civil space and dialogue

As a key actor of local democracy and civil society development, we are proud to announce that ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy – signed the open letter #EUCivilDialogueNow from the EESC’s Civil Society Group and Civil Society Europe, calling on the European Institutions to take concrete measures to implement the provisions of the Treaty on European Union for an open, transparent and regular dialogue with civil society in all policy areas. 

The letter received the immediate support of a total of 156 signatories from across 26 Member States, and ALDA is committed to spreading the message in order to build a democratic society based on fundamental rights and open dialogue by creating direct channels to engage in the EU policy-making process.

Indeed, according to Article 11 of the Treaty, the EU Institutions should already maintain an “open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society” as a main principle of our democracy. Nevertheless, civil dialogue is still patchy and unstructured across the EU and therefore needs considerable progress, beginning with the recommendations arisen by the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

The European institutions must follow up on these recommendations and implement them with all the necessary tools to commit themselves and make substantial progress ahead of the upcoming European elections.

As initiator and member of Civil Society Europe, ALDA shares the vision of a vibrant and active democracy for Europe, where citizens participate in decision-making processes and have trust in their institutions

Through an ambitious approach, the signatories of the open letter request the EU Institutions to: 

• Initiate an inter-institutional agreement on civil dialogue, harmonising standards and providing spaces to tighten up the quality of local engagement.
• Create within each institution leadership positions in charge of relations with civil society (i.e. the mandate of the Vice President of both the European Parliament and the European Commission responsible for that relationship), and ensure the establishment of permanent civil dialogue structures in each Member State and relevant EU institution, including the European Council.
• Promote and strengthen the cooperation between civil and social actors, extending knowledge, expertise and networks in communities and existing societies.   

All of this beginning with the recommendations of the 2024 EU Elections Manifesto for a better civic space and civil dialogue. 

As initiator and member of Civil Society Europe, ALDA shares the vision of a vibrant and active democracy for Europe, where citizens participate in decision-making processes and have trust in their institutions.

Fostering civil dialogue and cooperation with policy-makers ensures greater legitimacy and better implementation of policies related to each area of citizens’ lives, addressing the multiple challenges that our communities and societies face nowadays.

Discover the open letter by clicking here.