Engaging in an exchange of views on “Deliberative Democracy — from “nice-to-have” to essential for thriving democracies”, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge stressed that:
“Deliberative democracy is about helping to ensure that all voices are heard and that our democratic systems remain strong, responsive, and inclusive. A democracy that engages all segments of society, including those who are too often underrepresented.”
Following-up of the decision made by Heads of State and Government in Reykjavík calling for more participatory forms of democratic engagement, “we need to move from ad hoc implementation to the systematic institutionalisation of deliberative mechanisms — while upholding democratic values and principles such as transparency, accountability, and inclusion.”
The exchange was organised by Council of Europe Directorate for Democracy, as part of the Secretary General’s New Democratic Pact for Europe, with the support of Ambassador Caitriona Doyle, Chair of the Committee of Ministers’ Rapporteur Group on Democracy. Speakers included Art O’Leary (Irish Electoral Commission), Felix Arndt (Deutscher Bundestag) and Marie Claire Martel (CESE France) offering insights from deliberative democracy initiatives from Ireland, Germany, and France.
The Council of Europe has adopted a Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Deliberative Democracy in 2023, developed by the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) based on the findings of the Report on Deliberative Democracy.
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