foundation for eu democracy

April 3 2008 – The Foundation for EU Democracy, a brainchild of Anthony Coughlan, Jens-Peter Bonde and Sharon Ellul Bonici, was registered in Brussels in October 2007 as a response to a pilot project launched in 2007 by DG Education and Communication in the European Commission.

The creation of the Foundation came as a response to a pilot project launched in 2007 by DG Education and Communication in the European Commission. Trough its Community Action Programme to Promote Active European Citizenship, DG Education and Communication created a framework aimed at increasing public participation and involvement in EU related affairs, in an attempt to cope with the overall lack of interest towards the EU. The institutions spend a great deal of energy – and money - to promote participation, debate, knowledge gathering and such democracy-improving activities.

A part of this Action Plan is specifically aimed towards the European political parties, which are encouraged to create foundations that fulfill the above criteria. These foundations are affiliated to the parties but yet exist as independent legal entities.

The EUDemocrats considered this opportunity and found it perfectly in line with our party’s goals. The Foundation for EU Democracy (FFEUD) is our response to the Commission’s initiative and we hope that it will produce a lot of useful material for the large public to use.

The main goals of the Foundation, as stated within its Statute, are as follows:

a) Researching, analyzing and contributing to the debate on European Public Policy issues and the process of European integration;

b) Supporting European Seminars, training, conferences and studies on such issues;

c) Serving as frameworks for national think tanks, political foundations and academics to work together at European level;

Another very important principle for the Foundation is the commitment it will show towards the main principles upon which the European Union itself is founded: liberty, democracy, protection and promotion of human rights as well as the rule of law.

At the moment the Foundation is not yet fully operational. It will soon have a working website. One of the first items produced under the framework of the Foundation is a reader-friendly version of the Lisbon Treaty, as coordinated by Jens-Peter Bonde. Available soon.

The Foundation’s Secretary General is Geraud de Ville, who is also the main contact person at the moment. For questions or information you can mail him at geraud@eudemocrats.org.

We, at the EUD, are very enthusiastic about the opportunities this organization will offer. In order to help improve our project, we are very interested in your opinions and suggestions. Write us on eud@eudemocrats.org and let us work together for a more democratic Europe!