The European Citizens’ Panel on Tackling Hatred in Society was launched in Brussels on Friday 5 April.
This first session, part of a cycle of three meetings scheduled between April and May, focuses on three main areas: developing a common understanding of hatred by analysing perceptions and testimonies, identifying the causes and factors contributing to contemporary hatred and examining possible areas of action to counter it.
Made up of 150 citizens selected at random from the 27 Member States, the group will draw up recommendations aimed at strengthening dialogue and cohesion between the various European communities. These proposals will then be used to guide the European Commission in its efforts to combat hate speech and hate crime.
This initiative follows on from the 2023 Communication entitled ‘No place for hate: a Europe united against hatred’ (see EUROPE 13308/4) and aims to promote an inclusive forum for discussion at EU level. It also reflects the EU’s commitment to involving citizens in the decision-making process in order to improve the democratic representativeness and relevance of European policies.
The panel receives support from a facilitation team and a committee of experts, and ensures that it represents the EU’s socio-demographic make-up, with particular attention given to gender balance and the involvement of young people. This approach demonstrates the importance of citizen engagement in strengthening European values and democracy. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)