"Democracy is not something given to us once and for all. It is not something obvious. It is something for which we must fight and strive for every day." Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk made these remarks after being appointed by the CIVEX Commission as European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Rapporteur on the European Democracy Action Plan.
Dulkiewicz said that Europe stands at crossroads and that local and regional authorities have an important role to play in strengthening democracy. "We are already making important choices with far-reaching consequences. The question is which path we will follow: will we choose the winding path of values or will we take the populist highway at dangerous speed? And here comes a great task for local politicians especially for those who have an impact on the processes taking place in our small homelands, in which for many people social interaction begins. Democracy must be practiced, exercised, learned. Myself as Mayor of Gdansk, city where solidarity, the first democratic laboratory on the other side of Iron Curtain was born, treat this opinion as a special duty."
In December the European Commission presented its European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU. The European Democracy Action Plan sets out measures around three main pillars:
- Promote free and fair elections;
- Strengthen media freedom and pluralism;
- Counter disinformation
These would also be key considerations for citizens and regional and local authorities when it comes to the long awaited Conference on the Future of Europe.
Strengthening the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights
During the CIVEX Commission, members also discussed measures of the new Strategy on strengthening the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights which among others aims to empower civil society organisations and to raise awareness among the public. The strategy complements the European Democracy action plan as part of the European Commission priority 'A new push for European Democracy'.
In her remarks, Mayor Dulkiewicz said "Civic awareness is the best instrument to protect fundamental rights. Free citizens are the perfect guarantee and tool for freedom, tolerance, democracy and respect to the rule of law. Civic awareness is a form of vaccine that makes us immune to the disease of propaganda and fake news in public life."