Brussels, 31/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 April, the European Commission is to adopt a communication that takes stock of the “Plan-D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate” initiative launched in 2005 after the French and Dutch rejection of the former treaty establishing a European Constitution (see EUROPE 9048 and 9310). As part of local and transnational projects, it will continue to support the involvement of European citizens in reflection on the future of Europe and seek to close the gap between citizens and European political spheres. It will also aim at greater coordination of Plan-D actions with other Community programmes and specific initiatives conducted by other European institutions and bodies (e.g. European citizenship Agora) - in the hope that citizens' debates will stimulate participation in the European elections of 2009.
With a budget of €7.2 million, the strategy proposed by the Commission is made up of two sections, one pan-European and the other national. A call for proposals will be launched in 2008 with a view to a transnational project cofinanced up to €2 million. Given the experience gained during the previous phase of Plan-D (see EUROPE 9281), the project will be carried out with citizen consultation throughout the EU and will establish common conclusions to be communicated to the European political organisations. The remaining €5.2 million will be used to support decentralised actions and will be managed directly by the 27 Commission representations. For 2008, the latter have planned 140 actions adjusted to the local context including: - actions targeting schools and youth centres, exhibitions, festivals and fairs, conferences and events involving non-governmental organisations. According to the Commission, these initiatives should involve regional communities as far as possible, so that they arouse the interest of politicians running for the European elections, who can use these discussions as a basis for dialogue with the voters.
The Commission trusts that this new phase of Plan-D will allow the new political and institutional context to be used to advantage. In particular, review of Regulation (EC) No 1524/2007 on the statute for the funding of political parties and European foundations broadens the range of activities of these organisations (see EUROPE 9554). Some foundations have thus submitted to the Commission a series of pilot schemes aimed at informing citizens on the European elections and, as of September 2008, their activities will be financed in a permanent manner. Furthermore, as the experience gained in the context of Plan-D shows that the European institutions have more impact when they join forces and take part together in debates with citizens, the Commission trusts that this form of interinstitutional cooperation will be incorporated in future Plan-D projects. This idea echoes the proposal to officialise in an interinstitutional agreement the commitment of European institutions and bodies to communicate on Europe (see EUROPE 9514). The Commission also states its “readiness” to work with the future EU Council Presidencies that wish to organise citizen summits. Also, the future Plan-D projects should take account of related Community initiatives and programmes such as the “Europe for Citizens” programme (see EUROPE 9426), the 2008 Year on Intercultural Dialogue, and the European fund for the integration of third country nationals (INTI). Finally, the following actions will follow: - the creation of pilot information networks involving political and media decision-makers, the generalisation of European public areas after the fashion of those opened in Dublin, Madrid and Tallinn, and the organisation of citizens' fora and visits from European commissioners in member states, as well as the development of Eurobarometer surveys to take into account deliberative polling and the organisation of online debates. For further information see: http: //europa.eu/debateurope/ (M.B.)