Brussels, 10/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of the Swiss Mission to the EU, a debate was held in Brussels on Tuesday 9 November on direct democracy. The event brought together speakers from the European Parliament (EP) and the National Council, the lower chamber of the Swiss Confederation's Federal Assembly as part of the build-up to the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) brought in by the Lisbon Treaty. Opening the meeting, Swiss Ambassador to the EU Jacques de Watteville said that, according to some observers, the ECI, which contains a number of safeguards, was much less ambitious than the Swiss system of referendums. Various speakers then debated direct democracy as an instrument that weakens or strengthens democratic principles. Acknowledging the deep “disconnect” between the European institutions and the ordinary citizen, Liberal deputy leader in the EP Diana Wallis stated that the ECI was “a huge step forward for European citizens”. She said, in substance, that there was a need for something more modern than the current system, that is, the retention of the present system with the touch of direct democracy that the ECI will bring and greater involvement of national parliaments. The debate was the first in a “Partners in Dialogue” series which the Swiss Mission will hold. (O.L./transl.rt)