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1. Introduction

The European Union is often described as a distant and inaccessible institution. In fact, European citizens have many tools and opportunities to be actively involved in European politics and influence the work of the institutions.

In addition, in recent years European institutions have worked hard to promote openness, transparency, and information on their work. These general principles are confirmed in Article 10.3 of the Lisbon Treaty according to which “every citizen has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. Decisions are taken as openly and as close to citizens as possible".

In May 2021, the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission launched the Conference on the future of Europe, a real experiment in participatory democracy aimed at encouraging the participation of European citizens in defining the future of the Union.

 

In this section, we will study the main EP tools for active participation and hear about the experiences of civil society organisations and stakeholders promoting the improvement of anti-discrimination measures in the EU.

Watch this video and discover how European citizens can make their voice heard:

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