Thu, 22 Feb, 1800 GMT, 1900h CET
In many European countries farmers are taking to the streets to demand a change in the rules governing the food system, from farm to shops, all the way to the fork – touching all our lives in the process. The highly competitive and industrialized food system is seen by many as a burden for farmers, consumers, the environment and climate. While there is less consensus among protesters about what exactly needs to change, the feeling of political powerlessness in the decision-making process in the European Union and in the member states is palpable for many – as are severe conflicts of interests. With the EU quickly backtracking on key nature and agricultural reforms as response to the farmer protests, many ask:
Who decides in Europe?
This is why we as Power to the People Group (see our previous webinars here) are hosting our next transnational, multilingual and interactive webinar covering this topic. It will be the start of a series on participatory democracy in Europe. With expert speakers we take a close look at how European democracy really works – both the written as well as unwritten rules between parliament, governments, civil society and lobbyism. What to keep and what needs to be changed to make sure that the priorities and values of the European citizens are not forgotten? We will hear from those involved at different stages of the decision-making process.
Knowledge is power. Power to change.
We aim not to answer all the questions on agriculture, food pricing, nature and climate. What we want to do is collect and distribute knowledge about the decision-making processes as they are, and as they could be. European democracy is a vast sea and in this event we want to give you all a map to better navigate it – not least with the European elections coming up. With knowledge comes the power to change.
Our speakers include:
- Prof Vivien A. Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and International Relations in the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies; Professor of Political Science at Boston University andFounding Director of BU’s Center for the Study of Europe.
- Isabel Paliotta, Policy Officer for Sustainable Food Systems at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
- MEP Jutta Paulus, Negotiator for the Nature Restoration Law and Methane Regulation (Greens, Germany)
- MP Aurélien Taché, Member of the French National Assembly for rural constituency Val-d’Oise (Les Verts, FR)
- Marta Messa, Secretary General for Slow Food EU
- César Luena, MEP, S&D, EP’s chief negotiator on NRL (tbc)
- Paulo Gouveia, Chief Policy Advisor, Copa Cogeca (tbc)
- Geneviève Savigny, European Coordination of Via Campesino (tbc)
- Prof Stephen Stec, Environment and Democracy Workgroup CEU and Lead Researcher RealDeal initiative for citizen participation in the European Green Deal (tbc)
- See online for an updated list
Date: Thursday, 22 February 2024, 1900 – 2100h CET
Simultaneous interpretation is provided for English, German, Italian and French.
This is the first event of our new series “Building a ‘Digital European Public Sphere’
Participatory democracy in the EU: current challenges and future perspectives” as part of the Democratic Odyssey for a permanent European peoples’ assembly (more here). All our previous events are available here.
Please, join us for this event and invite others!
Everyone at the Power to the People Group
A cooperation of European Alternatives, European University Institute, Europe Calling, Mehr Demokratie, Another Europe is Possible, Citizens Takeover Europe, ECI Campaign and The Democratic Odyssey