March for a Europe for citizens

March for a Europe for citizens

The current French political system just turned 65 and seems to be unchangeable. French political rules prevent the emergence of new political movements, whether in terms of electing new leaders or fundraising: entering politics in France is still synonymous with a long career and a well-established network. While politicians often encourage citizens to speak up and voice their concerns, the reality remains starkly different. The European Union's Conference on the Future of Europe, despite its grand publicised efforts, was an exercise in disillusionment for many. In this daunting landscape, we refuse not to address the elephant in the room that is meaningful citizen participation and want to dismantle the barriers preventing new voices from being heard.Therefore, let’s gather the European civil society and meet on the Paris Europe square on the 26th of November at 1:45PM to call for reforms to increase citizen participation in European politics, including:

• More transparency and accountability from EU institutions.
• A European citizens' assembly to be held before every major EU legislative decision.
• A reduction in the voting age to 16 for European elections.

Volt Europa is urging all citizens and movements who care about the future of Europe to join the demonstration. We deeply believe that together, we can build a more democratic and participatory European Union because that’s how we do politics: we provide a platform for all citizens, from small business owners to students, to speak, share their ideas, and engage in meaningful discourse. Because the future of Europe shouldn’t be solely decided by old men in grey suits behind closed doors; it’s in the hands of all of us. Practical information: The march will start at Place de l'Europe at 1:45pm and will reach Place de la République at around 3pm. From 3 pm to 4 pm, several elected representatives, candidates and representatives of pro-European associations and parties will take to the stage to speak. We encourage you to join us at 1.30 p.m. in Place de l'Europe so as not to miss the start of the march! You will also have the opportunity to talk to the hundreds of Volt Europa members who will be coming from all over Europe for the weekend.

Links for the event

Updated November 12th, 2023