Europe's People's Forum

EU Legislative Interests

The NEPF stays independent and neutral for all other topics than policies and legislation that is related to democracy within EU or as part of EU foreign policy. The NEPF has actively been involved in the following: NEPF has in 2022 and first half of 2023 focused much on spreading the participatory democracy to include both better tools to reach citizens within the EU and on ways of building capacity for legislative and civil society stakeholders to use participatory mechanisms as well as deliberative participatory processes in member states and candidate countries that seem weak on this. In 2021 the NEPF contributed significantly to the EP AFCO’s Report on Citizens’ dialogues and Citizens’ participation in the EU decision-making (2020/2201(INI)) to analyse, list and describe better future tools for engaging citizens directly. Invited by the EP AFCO we met with EC Vice President Jourova present NEPF’s new initiative Center for European Citizens’ Democracy Foundation (CECD) and were later invited to present and discuss the initiative with the Competence Center on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy. The CECD was further discussed with the Vice President Suica, who as keynote speaker to the 2022 General Assembly of the EPF supported this initiative. As did the President of EESC Ms. Schweng ahead of the EPF General Assembly as well as in a joint op-ed with the President Casale of the EPF. The General Assembly of EPF unanimously supported a launch of the CECD as proposed by the President and the Secretary General. The launch made the proposal a public initiative and initiated the beginning of the SG’s process to raise funds for running costs from member states, foundations and others. The EPF was invited to present the initiative and the visions for re-vitalising democracy in the European Union and in the candidate and neighbourhood countries to the Danish Parliament’s EU-policy Committee. An election campaign and an emergency fiscal law delayed the fund-raising in DK with a year. EPF suggested to the EP AFCO a holistic programme for a pilot budget line, addressing all candidate countries through a mix of deliberative processes defining needs for democratic reforms and a comprehensive and holistic cooperation between European, member states and candidate parliaments. This would be a typical design for facilitation by the CECD. The pre-assessment from EC stated that the proposal could not be implemented as pilot budget line because the existing IPA and Global Europe programme already could support this programme. NEPF this year together with the organisers of Economic Forum Poland and the International Pan-European Union has submitted a CERV application Holistic Approaches for Citizens’ Participatory Democracy – Towards a Center for European Citizens Democracy Foundation (CECD). The NEPF SG discussed with a high level panel - Polish former Deputy Prime Minister Grzegorz Kolodko, MEP Ryszard Antoni Legutko, MP Boguslaw Sonik and Minister of European Affairs - at the Economic Forum how important it is to engage citizens in the policies of the European Union. The NEPF SG was one of the key resources of a range of monthly Zoom meetings about the future participatory and deliberative democracy in Europe. The NEPF SG further was a key resource in Zoom network of upcoming organisations across the newest member states and the candidate and neighbourhood countries. This both serves to build a network and to assist new democratic resources across all future member states.

Communication Activities

EPF distributes newsmails and analyses on EU and Europe's citizens participatory processes to its 200 members 1-2 times every month. Another mean of communication for EPF is our website with articles, op-ed and opinions that all have been further distributed via Twitter and Facebook. Among several articles the following selected Press clippings: Selected Press clippings: Most EU Citizens want their voices to be heard when it comes to future of Europe?, Article, Martin Banks The Parliament Magazine, 9 March 2021 https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/most-eu-citizens-want-their-voices-to-be-heard-when-it-comes-to-future-of-europe Eurobarometer shows strong support for Conference on the Future of Europe, Article by Mose Apelblat The Brussels Times, Thursday, 11 March https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/159532/eurobarometer-shows-strong-support-for-conference-on-the-future-of-europe Six ways to make the Conference on the Future of Europe a success, Op-ed Bent Noerby Bonde and Roger Casale The Parliament Magazine, 19 March 2021 https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/six-ways-to-make-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe-a-success Is Citizen Led Democracy Here to Stay?, Op-ed, Roger Casale Brussels Times, Mon. 20 September 2021 https://www.brusselstimes.com/opinion/185904/is-citizen-led-democracy-here-to-stay More politicians than citizens at the Conference on the Future of Europe?, Article by Mose Apleblat, Brussels Times, Mon. 25 October 2021 https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/190627/more-politicians-than-ordinary-citizens-at-the-conference-on-the-future-of-europe Powering up democracy is key to peaceful future for Europe, Op-ed by Christa Schweng and Roger Casale, 17 June 2022 https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/12973/28 Proposal for permanent citizens participation in EU decision-making. Article by Mose Apleblat, Brussels Times, 25 June 2022 https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/244777/eu-democracy-how-to-give-citizens-a-voice-in-the-future-of-europe Scholarly: The Empowerment of Citizens in the European Union through the Conference on the Future of Europe Ph.D. Bent Noerby Bonde https://web.s.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=13929569&AN=157780322&h=vKkWUT27vQtxTH10U1dD7%2f5ZnFTbqizGduClWF7P80c7zIBUtsOMhXzaGqzZJXILAebyObspdFQTLo070gjMtQ%3d%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d13929569%26AN%3d157780322 Projects with other networks that have included both international conference across Europe – online or face-to-face, depending on the Covid 19: Citizens Looking for Multidimensional Migration Challenges (CITIMIG) Europe’s Peoples’ Forum is an active partner in this 18 months project that has been co-financed by the Europe for Citizens programme. The project aims to promote citizen participation in the EU policy-making process regarding migration from different perspectives. The goal is to gather experts, citizens and political leaders to discuss, give their views and achieve a policy briefing together. Following this strategy, the project aims to be innovative, inclusive and interactive. JOINT CITIZENS’ FORCES – COMMON EUROPEAN FUTURE (JOCICEF) Europe's People's Forum has been part of the project JOINT CITIZENS’ FORCES – COMMON EUROPEAN FUTURE (JOCICEF), co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union and under the auspices of the President of the European Parliament. The project aims at empowering European citizens and civil society organisations and offers them a platform for structural dialogue with the EU policy- and decision-makers on the common future. Other: Several conference presentations have been carried out by the President and Secretary General of EPF focusing on the policy issues dealt with by EPF.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

NEPF is a member of Democracy R & D NEPF is a member of European Central Bank's group for Civil Society Organisations At its general assembly in June 2024, the EPF approved that the European association New Europeans Aisbl joined the EPF with its individual members, its social media and website. The merged organisation has the name New European People's Forum (NEPF) and a new board was established for the first year with members from the old EPF and the old New Europeans boards. The statutes, the bank account and the registration with tax authorities remain the same as it was for EPF. The registered address is Ryvangs Alle 18, 2100 Copenhagen Oe, and in Brussels the postal address is the Brussels Press Club.

Organisation Members

Please find on the website www.europespeoplesforum.eu: NEPF has three categories of members: • National technical partners including research institutions • National and European Civil society and social partners • Individual members (gradually outphased) Total number of members that are natural persons • 32 National technical partners • 50 National and European Civil Society and Social partners • 15 Individual members Technical partners Austria: | Belgium: Particitiz | Bulgaria: Applied Research and Communications Fund |Croatia: Odraz - Sustainable Community Development| Cyprus: KEY – Association in Culture and Youth |Czech Republic: Technology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic – TC CAS |Denmark: Danish Board of Technology | Estonia: Eesti People to People |Finland: DEMOS Helsinki |France: Parlement & Citoyens Make.org Centre international de formation Européen - CIFE |Germany: NEXUS Institute & Technical University Berlin Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie - KIT|Greece: Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy - ELIAMEP | Hungary: Green Dependent Intezet Nonprofit Kft |Ireland: The Institute for Future Media and Journalism |Italy: University of SASSARI |Latvia: Kurzernes NVO Center |Lithuania: Lithuanian College of Democracy Global Lithuanian Leaders |Luxembourg: |Malta: University of Malta |Netherlands: University of Twente Wageningen Economic Research| Portugal: Forum dos Cidadãos |Romania: Asociatia Institutul de Prospecti | Slovakia Slovak Academy of Sciences | Slovenia: Institute for Electronic Participation INePA |Sweden: www.Digidemlab.org Edward Andersson Civil Society and Social Partners Austria Austrian Paneuropean Movement European Movement Austria Belgium Jeunes Europeens Federalistes AISBL - European JEF AEGEE Europe Maison des Associations Internationales Bulgaria Association "European Perspectives" Civic Participation and Direct Democracy Society Youth and Civil Initiatives in the Rose Valley Croatia Udruga Za Razvoj Civilnog Drustva Bonsai iDEMO Institut za demokraciju GONG CENTRE FOR CIVIL INITIATIVES POREČ Hrvatsko debatno društvo Cyprus Pancyprian Volunterrism Coordinative Council Network for European Citizenship and Identity (NECI) Czech Republic KOMUNIKUJEME OPS Denmark Europe's People's Forum Democracy in Europe Organisation (DEO) JEF Denmark Nyt Europa Forum for International Cooperation (FIC) Dansk Folkeopysnings Samrad (DFS) Fagbevægelsens Hovedorganisation (formerly LO) Confederation of Danish Industry Estonia SA Eesti Koostöö Kogu Finland Soma Foreningen RF France JEF France Institut de recherche et débat sur la gouvernance Maison de L'europe de Paris Sauvons L'Europe Germany Pulse of Europe Democracy International Libertas - European Institute Greece European Expression Inter Alia Hungary Magyar Paneuropean Union Ireland Italy Mediterranean Affairs Union of European Federalists Italy Istituto di studi per l'integrazione dei sistemi (I.S.I.S.) Latvia Klubs Maja - Jaunatne Vienotai Eiropai Biedriba DOTS - Fonds Atvertai Sabiedribai Lithuania Open Lithuania Foundation Lithuanian College of Democracy Luxembourg Institut Culturel Européen Pierre Werner Malta SOS Malta Netherlands Jonge Europese Federalisten Nederland European Cultural Foundation Poland Mlodzi Europejscy Federalisci Komitet Obrony Demokracji (KOD) Portugal Associação Academia Cidadã Rosto Solidario ECOS - COOPERATIVA DE EDUCACAO, COOPERACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTOC Romania EUROLINK - House of Europe Foundation Civicus Romania Slovakia PDCS | Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia Slovenia Slovenia Paneuropean Movement Spain Asociación Juvenil Inter Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association Sweden Nordic Diaspora Forum Nordic European Mobility European Umbrella Stand Up for Europe Europeans Throughout the World Jeunes Europeens Federalistes AISBL - European JEF New Europeans BOARD PRESIDENT (IT) – CEO New Europeans, former MP in UK. VICE PRESIDENT (DE) – DR. Coordinator for IASS of the Horizon project Real Deal, Researcher and manager MEMBER & SECRETARY GENERAL (DK) – Dr. Director Media Progress, Former director Baltic Media Centre, and TV 2 Bornholm MEMBERS (FR), CEO of think-and-do-tank Dreamocracy, former director Foundation Euractiv#media4EU and CEO and Editor in Chief ConsoGlobe, visiting professor Science Po, European Studies. (DE) Proff. Dr. Director Nexus-Institute, former State Secretary Ministry of Health etc., consultant for EU in State Chancellery of Brandenburg, President HAWK Hochschule etc. (BE) Dr. Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Studies at European Policy Centre (BE), Secretary General Europeans Throughout the World, former Director, Committee of the Regions, Assistant Director Association of Danish Regions (GR) Director of Operations, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (Eliamep) (HR) Director of Odraz Sustainable Community Development since 2001, member of EESC, group III, former member of governing board HMRR (IT), Ph.D. Candidate, University of Sassari, President Prossima Democrazia (FR), Dr. Director Missions Publiques