Power to the People Webinar

“All aboard! – How can citizen assemblies shape our democracies?”

On 27 September 2024 200 randomly selected Europeans will gather in Athens to inaugurate the European Peoples’ Assembly—a permanent institution designed to ensure that the voice of the people is always present at the decision-making table.

In this webinar, we will explore the significance of this groundbreaking assembly and its potential to reshape democratic participation in Europe. Through expert insights and interactive discussions, we aim to uncover the power of citizen assemblies in addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

What to Expect

The webinar will be divided into two segments:

1. Expert Insights
   A panel of esteemed speakers will kick off the event by sharing their insights on the role of citizen assemblies in modern democracies. Through simultaneous interpretation into 10 languages, including English, German, Greek, and French, the event will be accessible to a broad European audience. Speakers Include:
   • Art O’Leary: Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission of Ireland, who oversaw Ireland’s assembly on abortion rights
   • Professor Kalypso Nicolaidis: Chair in Global Affairs at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, co-lead of the Democratic Odyssey project
   • Niccolò Milanese: Founding Director of European Alternatives
   • Sarah Händel: Board member of Mehr Demokratie e.V., a leading NGO for deliberative democracy in Germany
   • Brett Hennig: Co-founder and Director of the Sortition Foundation, advocating for democratic lotteries in government
   • Alexiane Terrochaire – Barbançon: Executive Board Member of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
2. Interactive Discussions
   Following the presentations, participants will have the chance to engage in small group discussions with citizens from across Europe, reflecting on how assemblies can shape our democracies. This is a unique opportunity to share your thoughts and hear from others in a transnational setting.

How to Join

Participation is free, but registration is required. Secure your spot today and be part of this significant step toward a more inclusive European democracy.

Register here

Simultaneous interpretation available in: 

English, German, Greek, Italian, French, Czech, Portuguese, Polish, Lithuanian, and Bulgarian.

This event is part of the “Power to the People” series and is hosted as a component of the “Democratic Odyssey for a Permanent Assembly of European Peoples” project.