Demsoc at the European Commissioners' Hearings
Demsoc Statement
Democratic Society welcomes the ambitious agenda set out for the new European Commission. We particularly commend the focus on strengthening democracy, protecting civic space, and combatting disinformation. These are critical areas where the European Commission can make a significant difference in the lives of Europeans.
However, a strong democracy is one that has the capacity to reinvent itself. Europe must not fall into the trap of protecting a status quo with which many citizens are dissatisfied.
We therefore urge the Commission to go further in embedding democratic innovation and citizen participation across all aspects of its work, and supporting its use across European governments.
While the European Democracy Shield and the Civil Society Platform are crucial steps forward, they must be complemented by a comprehensive and long-term approach to citizen engagement, built on mutual trust.
In particular, we would urge Commissioner McGrath and Executive Vice-President Virkunnen, if confirmed, to:
⦁ Ensure that the European Democracy Shield includes robust mechanisms for citizen input and oversight, and protects against biased or fraudulent citizen participation exercises.
⦁ Create a Civil Society Platform that is truly representative of diverse civil society voices and provides meaningful opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with the Commission, including democracy organisations at every level.
⦁ Strengthen the Rule of Law Report by incorporating indicators related to civic space and citizen participation based on quality not just activity. Ensure that EU funds for citizen participation are conditional on respect for fundamental principles of fairness and equity.
⦁ Continue support for media literacy and pre/de-bunking initiatives to empower citizens to identify and resist disinformation. Media literacy has to be understood in the framework of critical digital literacy as a whole, ensuring that a thorough understanding of existing and future technologies, supports critical literacy. Support independent journalism and fact-checking organisations.
⦁ Engage citizens through robust, structured mechanisms for citizen engagement in the development and enforcement of the Digital Fairness Act, ensuring transparency and accountability in addressing online manipulation. This should include regular, accessible reporting on how citizen feedback is integrated into policy adjustments and the effectiveness of consumer rights protections.
⦁ Make citizen participation a verifiable benchmark in the Digital Decade Strategy. To ensure that Digital Decade fosters meaningful democratic involvement in tech policy, citizen participation needs to be measurable and evaluated in its effectiveness. This needs to be combined with the fostering of critical digital literacy.
⦁ Mandate rights-based ethical guidelines for the use of Machine Learning and Generative AI in public services with direct oversight. Ensure that “democracy is in the loop” when these systems are developed to ensure democratic oversight and thorough algorithmic accountability. Democracy in the loop is more than review. Ensure democratic representation in AI policy boards, and implement independent audits to verify that AI systems uphold democratic values and do not infringe on civil liberties and human rights.
⦁ Prioritise data privacy and security as the European Data Union develops. Ensure that the European Data Union prioritises enforceable data privacy standards that grant citizens true control over their personal data. Address potential data exploitation proactively, introducing preventative safeguards and emphasise citizen autonomy and security as non-negotiable rights.
⦁ Emphasise the role of digital technologies as tools for democratic reinforcement, not replacement. Set clear guidelines for evaluating digital tools used in democratic processes to confirm they enhance, rather than erode, democratic engagement. Commit to transparent, independent assessments of technologies deployed in democratic contexts, with special attention to ‘democracy theatre’ or democracy washing - where technology gives an illusion of democratic participation without real impact.
We also ask the European institutions collectively to take foundational steps in embedding citizen participation and open government across Europe. Specifically:
⦁ Develop a comprehensive strategy for securing, growing, and improving citizen participation. This strategy should outline tangible steps to embed citizen engagement across all policy areas and at all levels of governance, so involving citizens in decisions becomes the “new normal.”
⦁ Invest in capacity building: To support this, ensure that officials and policymakers have training and resources on how to use citizen engagement, participatory budgeting, and deliberative democracy, building on the work of the EU programme Networks for Democracy.
⦁ Promote a culture of participation: Encourage the institutions and civil society organisations to embrace citizen engagement as a core principle of democratic governance and support cultural initiatives to build citizens’ confidence and willingness to engage.
We believe that a truly democratic Europe is one in which citizens actively participate in making decisions that affect their lives. We stand ready to work with the Commission to achieve this vision.