Recommendation 1928 (2010)1
Democracy in Europe: crisis and
perspectives
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its
Resolution 1746 (2010) on democracy in Europe: crisis and
perspectives, in which it notes with concern that the recent
world economic crisis has accentuated symptoms of a crisis of
democracy which have been present for some time now, including
the lack of rules and regulations to help face the challenges
of globalisation and increased disinterest of citizens in
current institutionalised procedures of democracy.
2. The Assembly considers that the ensuing
crisis in representation can be overcome through an enhanced
process of participatory democracy and the development of a
new culture of political responsibility in terms of
responsiveness and accountability, as well as transparency on
the part of those who govern.
3. Considering that the right to participate
in the conduct of public affairs, be it at local, regional,
national or European levels, is a human right and a
fundamental political freedom, the Assembly has decided to
undertake further reflection, in close consultation with the
European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice
Commission), with a view to elaborating an additional protocol
to the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5)
guaranteeing this right. It has also resolved to organise open
public debates in the context of the drafting process of the
new protocol before proposing a draft text to the Committee of
Ministers, so that this process offers an opportunity to
promote public discourse and raise awareness on the need to
increase citizens’ active participation and ensure further
involvement of all people in the conduct of public
affairs.
4. The Assembly, recalling its earlier
proposal in
Resolution 1886 (2009) on the future of the Council of
Europe in the light of its sixty years of experience, and
reiterating that, among the three main pillars of the Council
of Europe, the democracy pillar of the Organisation needs to
be strengthened and to gain in visibility, recommends the
Committee of Ministers to:
4.1. set up a Strasbourg Democracy Forum as
an umbrella structure with a view to providing an
international reference and a laboratory for new ideas and
proposals in the field of democracy, as well as developing
synergies among relevant Council of Europe structures and
activities, such as the Forum for the Future of Democracy, the
biennial Assembly debates on the state of democracy, the
Venice Commission, the Summer University of Democracy and the
Schools of Political Studies Network;
4.2. entrust to a high-profile personality, a
sort of a delegate for democracy, the task of leading and
animating the Strasbourg Democracy Forum, as well as
disseminating, on a permanent basis, the Council of Europe’s
message on democracy-related issues of major current interest.
5. The Assembly also invites the Committee of
Ministers to contribute, along with other actors and in
particular the European Union, to the elaboration of
guidelines to regulate globalisation in full respect of human
rights, including social rights, ecological imperatives and
the rule of law.
1. Assembly debate on 23 June 2010
(24th Sitting) (see Doc.
12279, report of the Political Affairs Committee,
rapporteur: Mr Gross). Text adopted by the Assembly on
23 June 2010 (24th Sitting).
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