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Forum History

 

The Forum was established by the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe  (Warsaw, May 2005), to strengthen democracy, political freedoms and citizens' participation.

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Forum previous sessions

2011

(Limassol, Cyprus, October)

Interdependence of democracy and social cohesion.

New: Proceedings

"Radical measures taken in many countries to try to balance public budgets are both necessary and understandable†but  “Countries are running a high risk of seriously undermining the European model of social cohesion.† declared Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland while opening the Cyprus Forum.

2010

(Yerevan, October)

Perspectives 2020 Democracy in Europe - Principles and Challenges

Proceedings

 

''The Council of Europe has a unique strategic role to play in strengthening good democratic governance at all levels in the European space''. Democracy, or rather good democratic governance, is now not only intrinsically linked to the respect of human rights but is also recognised as the most effective form of governance to ensure stability, sustainability and well-being.

 That was the main message of the 2010 Forum.

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2009

(Kyiv, October)

Electoral systems: strengthening democracy in the 21st century

(Proceedings)

 "In a genuine democracy, the citizen is sovereign and the voter decides" - that was the main message of the 2009 Forum, which highlighted the need for greater public involvement, with a view to increasing voter turnout and ensuring that all stages of public life are democratic..

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2008

(Madrid, October)

"E-democracy: who dares?"

 

The discussions addressed the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on democracy.

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2007

(Stockholm, June)

"Power and empowerment - The interdependence of democracy and human rights"

 

This event addressed issues such as the role and responsibilities of the opposition, representative democracy at the local and regional level, empowerment of the individual and non-discrimination, respect for freedom of expression and association for civil society, and fostering democracy, human rights and social networks.

 (...)

 

2006

(Moscow, October)

"The role of political parties in the building of democracy"

 

The Forum reflected on  the role and responsibilities of political parties in finding democratic solutions to contemporary challenges, the interaction between political parties and with other actors in the democratic process, and the building and strengthening of democratic institutions.

(...)

 

Launch meeting (Warsaw, November 2005)

"Citizens' participation"

 

 

The discussions addressed the state of contemporary democracy in Europe.

(...)

Previous projects

("Making

Democratic institutions work")

 
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Council of Europe
Forum for the Future of Democracy

PERSPECTIVES 2020
Democracy in Europe- Principles and challenges

Address by Mr. Zoran PETROV, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, representing the Chair of the Committee of Ministers

Yereven, 19-21 October 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I am here with you today to offer some opening remarks on behalf of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.

Our Conference has an ambitious programme – to look at the principles governing, and challenges to, democracy in Europe today. With such a broad agenda, it is unlikely that we will leave this beautiful city of Yerevan with a full set of answers to all our questions. Yet these discussions are crucial. The face of democracy is changing and the Council of Europe, for which promoting and strengthening democracy is a core objective, must remain vigilant and flexible in its approach. It must recognise and embrace the new challenges if it is to remain the benchmark for European democracy.

Democracy has been championed as a mechanism that bestows legitimacy on political decisions when they adhere to certain principles, rules, and mechanisms of participation, representation and accountability. Democracy represents therefore not only a form of government, but also a set of values. Values which are at the heart of the mission of our Organisation.

However, whilst this may be simply stated, achieving and maintaining a genuine and consolidated democratic state is a complex process. It is complex because societal, political and technological developments make for an ever changing arena in which political processes must unfold. Therefore whilst the principles and values may remain constant, the environment in which they must be adhered to is far from static.

The challenges and factors that influence the quality of democracy are, as a result, multifaceted. And it is these factors that are the focus of our discussions this week.

In this respect, I would take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the very high quality issue papers which have been prepared. This is a very useful initiative of our Armenian hosts as they touch on some crucial points and will, I am sure, provide rich basis for our discussions.

I would also highlight the significant acquis of the Council of Europe with regard to democratic principles, which is an illustration of the Organisation’s extensive experience and provides a solid foundation for our future work. In this regard, I would acknowledge, in particular, the work of the Venice Commission, which has, over the last 20 years, been a valuable resource in shaping and assisting democratic transitions on our Continent. We are confident that it will continue to be a source of guidance and assistance as we tackle the challenges of the future.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have already mentioned key words that we link to the concept of democracy – legitimacy, principles, rules, participation, representation and accountability.

All these are of course interdependent. But their success or failure are closely linked to the political culture in our societies. Or to put it simply the way in which people think about politics. Therefore if we are to steer our democratic processes on the right path towards the future, we must fully engage with our electorates. It is only in listening and indeed hearing our citizens that will allow us to identify the weaknesses in our mechanisms and possible solutions to remove them. Having an intensive and true dialogue with the electorate has always helped creating realistic policies in all social spheres. The media play very instrumental role in this regard.

There is no member state that enjoys a perfect society with a perfect political order. All of us have witnessed difficulties or failings in our democratic processes.

In many states, the electorate has not only lost interest but also trust in in politics, politicians, political parties, political issues. We must tackle the roots of such disenchantment, by constantly working for transparent and good government and governance. By convincing each and every citizen that their voice does count. To do so, we must continue to ask questions. Here I will just refer to two.

The first relates to the principle of equality. Political equality is supposedly an acquis. All citizens have the right to vote, to stand for elections. But the question is, in practice can political equality really co-exist with economic inequality? Is political influence in member States increasingly linked to economic and social factors? Is it surprising that those people living close to or below the poverty line are not interested in political agendas or can more easily be manipulated by politics? Is it a coincidence that those which traditionally are marginalised from political processes are more often the vulnerable populations of our society? We have to take greater care about those people and make our societies more cohesive and democratically inclusive? This can not be achieved easily and it calls for greater solidarity within the society.

The second question is that of representation. Traditional forms of political representation are no longer as clear cut as they once were. People are no longer satisfied to just nominate politicians from time to time to take decisions on their behalf. An alternative is of course full participatory democracy for which there are proponents and opponents. Proponents highlight it as the system which ensures popular involvement and consent, therefore making it more legitimate. Opponents highlight the dangers of majority opinion which does not necessarily reflect respect for personal freedoms or individual rights.

So are there alternatives that could be envisaged? Is there a happy medium between representative politics and direct democracy, which can allow for that “civic culture” which reconciles the participation of citizens in the political process with the vital necessity for government to govern?

When looking at individual member states of the Council of Europe the concrete shapes of democracy vary as the functioning of their democratic institutions. The problems that exist differ which require different responses.

These are just a few of many questions to which we need to give our attention. But it is clear that a vibrant political culture, accepting of democratic processes, carried out in full transparency and with clear cut rules, is more likely to secure legitimacy for a government. And legitimacy, transforming power into authority, is of course an illustration of a well-functioning democracy and the key to political stability.

Our main objectives for democratic progress till 2020 have to be the strengthening of the social cohesion and democratic participation with a greater involvement of civil society thus fostering the European unity.

Ladies and gentlemen

The notion of democracy has been around a very long time. And will continue to be far into the future. It has adapted from past to present, and must continue to be adapted from present to future. Its longevity is due to the fact that it gives due credence to the value and equality of each human being to participate in the decisions that structure their lives and determine the fate of their society.

The values which have underpinned democracy for so long must continue to sculpt our democratic mechanisms of the future. This is an on-going task. But with diligence and political imagination, we can address those trends that threaten to weaken our democratic processes, and find innovative ways and means to ensure our member states continue to strive for effective democracy in Europe.

Thank you for your attention.