This satellite event of the World Forum for Democracy was organised in the framework of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 ENLIGHTEN and Erasmus Mundus GEM projects' summer school. As part of said summer school's programme - which overarching aim is to examine the state, potential and limits of Europe's socio economic governance in the crisis aftermath - this specific workshop focused on the need for an inter-generational dialogue for democracy.

Designed as an interactive session involving selected MA students and Young professionals, it was coordinated by the Institute for European Studies of the Université libre de Bruxelles and led by the Office of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (international IDEA) to the EU in cooperation with the European Youth Forum.

Exchanges were based on the assumptions that there is an increasing distrust in traditional political systems; that numerous obstacles to participation and representation - including for young people - remain; and that a potential solution to participate in tackling these issues could be the strengthening of an intergenerational dialogue for democracy. Although many countries have already taken steps towards this goal, they seem to remain largely insufficient.

This workshop wa thus to provide a platform to openly and informally exchange views on this issue, with the following associated specific objectives: (1) Identify the main challenges of an inter-generational dialogue on democracy; (2) Explore ways to facilitate the emergence of suitable environment and space for such a dialogue; (3) Identify measures aiming at the promotion of the importance and need for an inter-generational dialogue on democracy; (4) Explore avenues of enhancement for young people’s participation and representation in political life in Europe; and (4) Maximize their contribution to the building of sustainable democratic societies.

Conclusions and recommendations of this are to be presented by 2 selected participants at the Council of Europe’s World Forum for Democracy, which will take place in Strasbourg, France during the 7-9 November 2016 period.

Programme