Apr.10.-  The 1st Marburg Colloqy on Direct Democracy will take place on April 20 & 21, at the Hotel Am Schlossberg, in Marburg.  A roud table will convene both days to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the founding of Europe’s first think-tank on direct-democracy and the inauguration of IRI-Europe new academic institute at the University of Marburg.

On the following week, the Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe (IRI-Europe) has organized the 2007 Lyon Democracy Europe Forum at the Municipal Library of Part-Dieu, Lyon – to get new inspiration, agree on common recommendations and to discuss future opportunities for participatory democracy in France and Europe.

This event -Dialogue for Europe: Inspirations, Recommendations and Opportunities- will take place on April 26-28.

Fifty years after the foundation of the European Union the issues of legitimacy and credibility of the integration process have surfaced as never before. The debate on democracy in Europe is a debate about the foundations and future of democracy as such. This does not only refer to the EU but also to its member states and its regional and local municipalities. 

In France, the presidential and parliamentary election campaigns have made it more than clear that Europe and its constituent parts are ripe for more participatory democracy. Whilst most people agree on this, the question as to HOW we citizens can become more participative in our common affairs across Europe is hotly debated.

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