Democracy is the cornerstone of our European Union, yet there is no dedicated Parliamentary committee that solely focuses on democratic processes and citizens’ participation. The proposed Intergroup on Democracy aims to fill this gap by being the first formal body and first-ever intergroup of its kind in the European Parliament to promote democratic principles and enhance citizen engagement across all legislative and non-legislative work. 

The cross-party, cross-national group of committed MEPs would collaborate with democracy-focused organisations to keep democratic reforms and citizen participation high on the EU agenda. The goal of the Intergroup is to strengthen democratic tools and mechanisms, ensuring that the voices of people are heard and valued in both internal and external EU actions.

To achieve this, the Intergroup will designate democracy focal points in each parliamentary committee to identify and highlight files that impact democratic processes. The Intergroup’s efforts are reinforced by a coalition of organizations dedicated to advancing democracy and participatory governance, striving to realize the EU’s commitments to a more inclusive and democratic union.

MEPs, support the establishment of the intergroup:

NGOs, support the establishment of the intergroup:

Why is an intergroup on European Democracy so important?

European democracy holds immense untapped potential, with numerous opportunities to expand and deepen democratic engagement across the EU. From enhancing citizen participation through digital platforms to fostering more transparent and inclusive decision-making processes, there are myriad ways to invigorate the democratic fabric of the Union. By leveraging innovative tools and mechanisms, the EU can better reflect the voices and aspirations of its diverse populace. However, democracy must be safeguarded against both internal and external anti-democratic forces that seek to undermine these democratic values. Strengthening the resilience of European democracy is crucial to ensuring its stability and continuity, protecting it from threats that could erode the fundamental principles upon which the EU is built.

While European Parliament intergroups have no formal competences, they allow for ‘coalitions of the willing’ to emerge around specific themes, connecting interested and committed Members of the European Parliament with relevant stakeholders. An intergroup on democracy could explore proposals for the strengthening and safeguarding of European democracy in detail and in close collaboration with relevant experts and civil society stakeholders and take the lead in designing a roadmap for the democratic reform of the European Union.