The closing ceremony, held at the Smart City Expo World Congress, passed the European Capital of Democracy title from Barcelona to its successor, Vienna. For 14 months, Barcelona served as the European Capital of Democracy, hosting 100 activities with 20,000 participants and leaving a lasting impact on democratic engagement.
The closing ceremony featured speakers like Lluís Rabell, City Councillor for Barcelona; Helfried Carl, founder of the European Capital of Democracy Initiative; Arnau Monterde, Director of Democratic Innovation in Barcelona; André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities; and Jürgen Czernohorszky, Vienna’s Executive City Councillor for Democracy and Environment.
Prior to the speeches a roundtable on “Ethics and Good Governance in 21st Century Europe” included David Velázquez, director at ESADE Law School; Begoña Román, ethics professor at the University of Barcelona; and Gemma Calvet, transparency consultant.
As the European Capital of Democracy, Barcelona and its metropolitan area became a true hub for democratic innovation, exploring new technologies and citizen participation to set a European benchmark for modern democracy.
Through the Programme Year many events have been organized, however some of the highlights included DecidimFest, the Democracy Lab, and the game jam “Truth, Lies & Democracy,” where teams created video games to tackle fake news and misinformation. Other key initiatives were the participatory processes Volem Decidir! and the Metropolitan Assembly Manifesta.
Cities as Beacons of Democracy
Cities are the heart of democracy, uniquely positioned to understand and respond to the needs of their citizens. They serve as vibrant platforms, where diverse communities can come together and connect across all cultures and backgrounds, acting as bulwarks against the current populist wave. Barcelona’s year as inaugural European Capital of Democracy has demonstrated how a city can radiate democratic ideals, enhancing democratic participation and empowering citizens to shape their own future. Barcelona has served as democratic stronghold on an international scale.
A European Benchmark for Participatory Democracy
Barcelona’s ambitious programme tackled contemporary democratic challenges through initiatives that emphasized inclusion, diversity, and human rights. Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay praised the exchange with other cities as essential for strengthening democracy in a rapidly evolving world.
The City Council highlighted the collaborative efforts of institutions and organizations that made Barcelona a diverse hub of public activities, promoting open, transparent governance. Key events like Truth, Lies & Democracy and the Democracy Lab connected the city with European democratic innovation, addressing issues like AI’s impact on democracy and combatting misinformation.
Participatory Processes Driving Democracy in Barcelona
Barcelona’s participatory democracy initiatives focused on connecting with citizens and addressing key concerns through innovative programmes across the metropolitan region
Volem Decidir!Volem Decidir! engages young people (ages 8-17) in Barcelona, encouraging them to participate in shaping the city. Topics range from bullying and environmental concerns for younger children to housing access and educational reform for teens. A video detailing this initiative is available here.
Metropolitan Assembly Manifesta This assembly, linked to the Manifesta Nomadic Biennale, brought together 60 citizens from 12 cities around Barcelona, selected by lottery, to address cultural and environmental issues across the metropolitan region. The result was a Declaration advocating for cultural rights, democratic governance of culture, and improved conditions for cultural workers. A video about this initiative is available here.
Highlights of the European Capital of Democracy Programme Year in Barcelona
Throughout the year, Barcelona hosted key events to strengthen democratic engagement.
The Innovation in Politics Awards The 2024 Innovation in Politics Awards celebrated Europe’s most pioneering political initiatives, with Barcelona hosting the ceremony under the patronage of Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe. A citizen jury of over 1,000 evaluated 314 projects, recognizing 70 finalists across various categories. Among them, Barcelona’s own B-MINCOME and Cooperative Housing initiatives received special recognition for their contributions to social cohesion and local development.
Decidim Fest 2023 Held in October at the Canòdrom, this festival focused on “Democracy, Technology, and Collective Intelligence,” showcasing advancements in digital democracy.
Truth, Lies & Democracy Game Jam This 48-hour event in May brought together Spanish and European teams to create video games tackling misinformation. The games, aimed at raising awareness about fake news, are available to play for free.
Democracy Lab:This gathering of 60 experts from across Europe explored new ways to enhance citizen participation in urban governance.
Biennal de Pensament In October, this influential event offered roundtables on topics such as “Democracy and Memory” and “Water and Democracy,” providing a reflective space for citizens.
ALDA Festival & General Assembly 2024 The ALDA Festival and General Assembly 2024 in Barcelona highlighted ALDA’s role in promoting local democracy and global cooperation. The event focused on key topics like citizen participation, migration, and human rights, bringing together international stakeholders to strengthen local impact and global collaboration.
The European Capital of Democracy (ECoD) Programme Year from September 2023 to November 2024, aimed to foster reflection on democratic challenges and showcase innovative citizen engagement practices. The programme included events, conferences, and activities on democracy, participation, and related themes. Vienna will succeed Barcelona as the next ECoD, continuing efforts to strengthen democracy at the local level across Europe.
Links:
City of Vienna https://www.wien.gv.at/
City of Barcelona https://www.barcelona.cat/en
Eurocities https://eurocities.eu/
Smart City Expo World Congress https://www.smartcityexpo.com/