Open call for members of civil society organisations to participate in the Democratic Odyssey transnational assembly

The Democratic Odyssey is a crowdsourced campaign, advocating for a “permanent peoples’ assembly for Europe” as a way of renewing Europe’s political system which European Alternatives coordinates.

The recent EU elections highlighted a dichotomy: declining voter turnout and rising far-right populism in some countries, contrasted with strong pro-European movements in others. With global challenges such as wars, climate change, and democratic backsliding, it’s imperative that citizens are more closely involved in decision-making processes. Our goal is to empower citizens to actively participate in shaping the future of Europe. 

What’s our plan?

We are organising a transnational assembly to showcase the potential of a permanent “peoples’ assembly.” This assembly will feature both in-person and online meetings, involving groups of people from across Europe selected by random lottery. Participants will engage in multilingual, transnational deliberations to set the future agenda for Europe.

From autumn 2024 throughout 2025 the assembly will travel to different European cities, gathering proposals on how the EU can better prepare for and respond to future crises. Our first meeting will take place from 27 to 29 September 2024 in Athens, starting the process with around 200 participants. This will be followed by online meetings and additional in-person sessions in different cities.

Call for Participation

As part of the recruitment efforts for the assembly, we are looking for individuals who work in civil society organizations (CSOs) to participate in this groundbreaking experiment in deliberation. Civil Society Organizations have been often overlooked in citizen assemblies and at the Democratic Odyssey we want to make things different and reclaim their rightful space.

By joining the assembly, you will be part of an innovative pilot that aims to institutionalize a European People’s Assembly. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a significant democratic process and help shape the future of Europe.

CSO Participants wil

• Become members of an assembly involved in a groundbreaking experiment in deliberation.
• Contribute to setting the agenda for how the EU can address future crises.
• Engage in both in-person and online deliberations with diverse participants from across Europe.

How to Participate

If you are interested in being part of this transformative initiative, please fill out the registration form. We are specifically seeking individuals working in CSOs who are passionate about democracy, inclusion and active citizenship.  By registering through our form you declare your interest in participating in the In-person assembly meeting in Athens from 27 to 29 September 2024.

Impact and Follow-Up

We are working closely with local municipalities, businesses, and civil society to ensure that the participants’ proposals are followed up on and advocated for. As more local assemblies take place and connect, we aim to foster a culture of democratic participation and make a compelling case for the EU institutions to pay attention.

For more information about the Democratic Odyssey, please visit our website and follow us on social media (LinkedIn, X, Instagram). If you have any questions, feel free to contact i.alonso@euroalter.com

Join us in this exciting journey to strengthen democracy in Europe!

*Currently, we do not have funding to cover accommodation and transport costs for civil society participants. However, this may change in the future as we continue to seek additional funding. For the assembly meeting in Athens, we will be providing catering for all participants. We appreciate your understanding and commitment to making this initiative a success despite these limitations.