Europe is facing a multitude of challenges and the very values on which Europe is built, such as democracy, human rights, freedom of movement and the rule of law  are under threat. In a time when Europe can seem divided, we have decided to come together in a pro-European Alliance for Democracy to engage Europe and its citizens in shaping the future of the European Union.

The conference marks the launch of ALL and brings together high-level speakers from the European institutions, NGOs, the business sector and trade unions as well as academics and journalists.

PROGRAMME

12:30 – 13.00 Registration and light lunch

13:00 – 13:30 Opening of conference

• Welcome by ALL spokesperson Petros Fassoulas, European Movement International
• Keynote: Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition

13:30 – 14:45 Panel debate: Current challenges to democracy: false news, propaganda and the role of independent media

• Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc)
• Marta Pardavi, Co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee
• Sławomir Sierakowski, Head of Krytyka Polityczna (Political Critique, Poland)
• David Crawford, Investigative Journalist and Senior Reporter, CORRECT!V
• Ryan Heath, Senior EU Correspondent, POLITICO

Q&A with Moderator, Joe Lynam, BBC

14:45 – 15:15 Coffee break (Press launch of the ALL alliance)

15:15 – 16:15 Democracy in action - Pitches of successful initiatives

• Khushboo Balwani, Civic Innovation Network Brussels (Belgium)
• Tim Hofman, Initiator of Stembus - Make Voting Great Again (The Netherlands)
• Emmanuel Cappellin, L’Observatoire de la Participation de Saillans (France)
• Joonas Pekkanen, E-participation tools, City of Helsinki and Founder of Open Ministry

Q&A with Moderator, Joe Lynam, BBC

16:15 – 17:00 Looking forward to the EP elections in 2019: Why we need an alliance for Democracy?

Short interviews with alliance representatives from BDI (Federation of German Industries), ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation), European Youth Forum, EEB (European Environmental Bureau), CEMR (Council of European Municipalities and Regions)

17:00 – 17:15 Closing speech: Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc)

17:15 Networking drinks