The satellite events are events organised by universities renowned in the sphere of political studies and international relations, non-governmental organisations, municipalities and other institutions.

The organising institutions are free to propose the dates and format of their event, the speakers and the specific topic(s) in line with this year’s Forum main theme. Possible formats include seminars, lecture in schools, survey, social media campaigns or radio/TV debates.

The satellite events should take place before the Forum so that their findings could be presented at the Forum and eventually be included in the Forum’s final report.

The Organising institutions should prepare a brief presentation of the findings of the event which will be put on the website of the World Forum for Democracy.

Events

Back Exchange of views: Deliberative Democracy - from 'nice-to-have' to essential for thriving democracies

24 Mar 2025 14.30 - 17.30
Strasbourg, France
Event Information

This exchange of views, organised by the Directorate for Democracy with the support of Ambassador Caitríona Doyle, Permanent Representative of Ireland and Chair of GR-DEM, offers an invaluable opportunity for permanent representations and colleagues to explore the transformative potential of deliberative democracy. Participants will gain insights into its benefits and opportunities, with a particular focus on firsthand experiences from Ireland, Germany and France. These examples highlight how deliberative mechanisms can foster inclusive and meaningful participation in democratic decision-making.

In an era when traditional democratic processes and institutions are increasingly scrutinised, trust in democracy is eroding, and voter participation in elections is declining, deliberative democracy emerges as a promising concept. Governments, civil society organisations, and academic institutions worldwide are seeking innovative approaches to policy development and decision-making. By learning from successful practices, stakeholders can identify ways to integrate these approaches into their own contexts, fostering a culture of collaborative and informed decision-making within the Council of Europe and beyond.

 Moderator:
  • Angela Jain, Network for Citizen Participation and Deliberation in Europe
 With the participation of:
  • Björn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, tbc.
  • Ambassador Caitríona DOYLE, Permanent Representative of Ireland and Chair of GR-Dem
  • Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy, Council of Europe
  • Felix Arndt, Head of the Citizens Assembly Unit, Deutsche Bundestag, Germany
  • Art O’Leary, Head of Electoral Commission, Ireland
  • Arnaud Magnier, Advisor to the President of the Conseil Économique Social et Environnemental (CESE), France
  • Claudia Luciani, Director, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

The event is organised in the framework of the Secretary General’s New Democratic Pact and as a satellite event of the World Forum for Democracy 2025.