Mar 21, 2025
DO: Third Assembly session
The Democratic Odyssey and its crowdsourced campaign advocate for a “permanent peoples’ assembly for Europe”, mobilizing a diverse and pluralistic group of actors—including academics, practitioners, journalists, institutional representatives, and civil society. Inspired by past EU efforts to institutionalize citizen participation, it seeks to go further.
Where?
To make the case, we embarked on a journey with a pilot assembly, engaging in multilingual, transnational deliberations. This assembly travels across different European cities, meeting both in person and online, planting the seeds for deeper citizen engagement at each stop.
Our journey began with Athens, where the first on-site assembly took place in September 2024. This was followed by an online gathering on November 26th, 2024, ensuring continued engagement across borders. The assembly reconvened in Florence from February 21st to 23rd, 2025, marking the second in-person gathering and the third overall moment of deliberation.
When?
The first in-person assembly took place in Athens from September 27-29, 2024, at the start of a new EU institutional cycle, aiming to shape the agenda for the next five years. The second on-site assembly in Florence (February 21-23, 2025) built on this momentum, allowing members to continue their deliberations and draft recommendations from the discussions in Athens, while incorporating new perspectives.
Who?
The pilot assembly began with 230 members in Athens, who committed to participating until September 1, 2025. For the Florence Assembly, we brought 60 participants from the Athens gathering—including 20 ambassadors and 40 transnational members, who are traveling to each on-site assembly.
In addition, we welcomed 60 new members in Florence, selected from among the city’s residents. This included a diverse group of individuals, as well as new civil society organizations and global citizens, who helped enrich the deliberative process and anchor it to the local reality.
Beyond the assembly itself, we also engaged the broader public through a cultural event involving local European associations and civil society on Friday, February 21, which brought together over 100 participants, expanding the conversation on democratic participation beyond the core group of assembly members.
In total 296 people participated in the democratic deliberations of the second physical assembly in Florence.
What?
In Florence, the assembly tackled the question:
“What needs to change for Europe to tackle future challenges? And how can we, the people, help better steer the ship?”
This discussion was framed within the broader theme of “A Citizens’ Agenda in Times of Crisis: Can We Become Effective Change-Makers?” Participants explored how citizens can play a more active role in shaping policy, responding to crises, and driving democratic innovation at the European level. Through deliberation, they identified key areas for action and strategies to enhance citizen-led decision-making in an era of uncertainty.
AGENDA – Florence Assembly
Friday, 21st February – Palazzo Buontalenti, Florence – Local onboarding
- Onboarding Part I – Welcoming and Introduction
- Onboarding Part II – Civic Arts: From Athens to Florence
- Onboarding Part III – Sharing Experiences of Crisis & Integrating New Members, with interaction with George Papandreou (former Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, member of Hellenic Assembly, member of Council of Europe), Dario Nardella (MEP, former Mayor of Florence)
Friday, 21st February – Le Murate, Florence – The village for Civic Action
- MAD – Black History Month Guided Tour of exhibitions
- Gallery – Panel: Big Tech, Populism & Free Speech (with Ponte Europa)
- Casa delle Donne – Feminismo Nero Latino Americano
A conversation with writer Claudileia Lemes Dias and academics on Black Latin American feminism
- Gallery – Documentary Screening: Food For Profit
Investigating the political and economic ties of the meat industry and its impact on society
- Gallery – Panel: Beyond Exploitation – Anti-Speciesism & Climate Struggles
Exploring the connections between climate justice, animal rights, and democracy
- Gallery – Dinner Break with Free Vegan Food & informal activities
- Gallery – Poetry Slam Performance by Giuliano Logos
- Gallery – DJ Set by Elena Gianetti
Saturday, 22nd February – Palazzo Vecchio – Reconciling contradictions
- Dialogue with Officials & Insights from Athens, including participation of Mayor of Fiesole and city advisory of Florence
- Small Group Discussions – From Crisis Experiences to Difficult Conversations
- Plenary Session – Understanding Trade-Offs in Decision-Making
- Group Work – Exchanging Knowledge and Experiences
- Group-Based Trade-Off Discussions – Reconciling Contradictions & Closing Reflections
Sunday, 23rd February – Florence School of Transnational Governance – Our recommendations
- Registration
- Finalization of Draft Recommendations
- Coffee Break
- World Café – Interactive Discussions on Key Takeaways
- Plenary and closure
