Citizens’ Jury for European Capital of Democracy
August 30th, 2022
ECoD NPO has been established by The Innovation in Politics Institute GmbH as a limited liability company in Vienna, Austria.
It is exclusively and directly pursuing non-profit purposes to promote democratic governance and strengthen social cohesion by expanding democratic participation and awareness and by promoting established and new forms of democratic practice in Europe.
ECoD NPO’s activities, therefore, have the overarching aim of identifying, developing, promoting and applying socio-political innovations to strengthen democracy in Europe and beyond.
To ensure long-term and broadest possible societal benefits, ECoD NPO promotes in particular:
Society's awareness of participatory and inclusive democracy in line with the European Convention on Human Rights
A focus on future generations, including by promoting education, participation and digital literacy among children and young people
Viable and sustainable solutions that contribute to peaceful and democratic coexistence in a safe and clean environment
The ECoD NPO’s objectives are identifying, developing, promoting and applying socio-political innovations to strengthen democracy in Europe and beyond.To ensure long-term and broadest possible societal benefits, ECoD NPO promotes in particular
strengthening society’s awareness of and confidence in the democratic principle, with an inclusive approach in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the aim of activating and involving as many citizens as possible,
a focus on future generations, including by promoting education, participation and digital literacy among children and young people,
viable and sustainable solutions that contribute to peaceful and democratic coexistence in a safe and clean environment.
The objective and the purpose of ECoD NPO are achieved through the following activities:
As a bottom-up initiative, ECOD NPO strengthens democracy in collaboration with civil society. In addition, it acts as a catalyst for democratic innovation, fostering exchange and best practice sharing by showcasing groundbreaking political innovation.
The use of the Citizens’ Jury as a standing sounding board, feedback and voting instrument as well as an information network on social innovation issues – opens up entirely new possibilities for dealing with Europe-wide social innovation issues.
The instrument is particularly valuable for public administration at various levels (regional to supranational), but also for socially relevant associations/organisations, NGOs, interest groups, etc., whose daily work includes information, consultation and decision-making processes.
With the Citizens’ Jury, universities and scientific institutions, think tanks and foundations have access to new forms of Europe-wide assessment and processing of corresponding questions for their (research) projects – there are few limits to cooperation and further development.
Media companies are also particularly challenged and subject to constant change in the development of new forms of mediation and action. For both groups, the direct, critical exchange with the Citizens’ Jury can offer unique insights.
The European Capital of Democracy Initiative is run by ECoD gemeinnützige GmbH. This non-profit organisation was founded by Innovation in Politics Institute. The development of the initiative has been supported with funding of the Council of Europe.
The Initiative has been launched under the patronage of Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission – Democracy & Demography, and under the auspices of Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
The necessary financial resources are raised through income from business activities (especially events, consulting and other services), subsidies from public institutions as well as private individuals, income from sponsoring, donations and other contributions.
