In the run-up to the 2009 Euro-elections, the European Citizens’ Consultations 2009 (ECC 2009) will give citizens a voice in the debate over how to respond to the current economic and financial crisis by providing a platform for a pan-European dialogue on the future of Europe.

The ECC 2009 will give all European citizens an opportunity to join in the discussion on how the EU can shape our economic and social future in a globalised world, by taking part in an online debate on national websites launched today (December 3) in every EU member state – the first stage in a process which will culminate in a European Citizens’ Summit in May 2009.

The national websites will give everyone the chance to discuss and share their views on this crucial issue, and help develop recommendations for national and European policy-makers. Their ideas will be fed into national consultations which will be held in all 27 EU member states in March next year, involving some 1500 citizens from all walks of life. The outcome of all these deliberations will be handed over to policy-makers at the European Citizens’ Summit in May.

French European Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet welcomes the project, saying: “I am delighted that this project is being launched at the end of the French Presidency of the European Union. It is innovative in its method, essential in the topics covered and absolutely indispensable in the times we are facing. We need to be ever more attentive to citizens at the European level in order to put them at the core of the Europe building process.”

Speaking at the official launch of ECC 2009 today, Diana Wallis, Vice-President of the European Parliament, also praised the initiative. “European policy-makers need citizens as partners in a two-way dialogue, and that is exactly what ECC will provide on a large and ambitious scale,” she said.

ECC 2009 is co-funded by the European Commission under its ‘Debate Europe’ programme. Speaking at the launch, Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström said: “This project sets a new standard for citizen participation by working on the national and European levels, and by combining online and offline dialogue.”

The European Citizens’ Consultations are run by a consortium of more than 40 European partner organisations, led by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF), and is co-funded by foundations including the KBF, Compagnia di San Paolo and the Robert Bosch Foundation. The Citizens’ Consultations in Malta will be held on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of March 2009 at the Corinthia Hotel & Spa in Balzan organised by the Malta Regional Development and Dialogue Foundation in collaboration with the Malta-EU Steering & Action Committee (MEUSAC).

Everybody can contribute to the debate on the following website:

http://mt.european-citizens-consultations.eu/

You can also join the dedicated Facebook group ‘European Citizens’ Consultation 2009.’

Permalink: Launch of the Maltese website of the European Citizens’ Consultations 2009