Representatives from six Ukrainian communities and civil society organizations were undertaking a study visit to Vienna, Bregenz, Wolfurt, and Salzburg.
The Council of Europe, the largest intergovernmental organization in Europe promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in its 46 member states, organized a study visit of a Ukrainian delegation from September 17 to 20, 2024, in collaboration with ECoD GmbH (European Capital of Democracy).
The project “Strengthening Democratic Resilience through Citizen Participation During and After the War in Ukraine” (2023-2024) supports the goals of the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Ukraine. It aims to foster democratic processes and address the challenges faced by authorities during the war and post-war periods.
This project supports local, regional, and national authorities in implementing decision-making processes that allow for broader participation and the inclusion of all stakeholders. It also provides technical and expert support to two local authorities in planning and executing the first citizen assemblies in Ukraine. The five-day visit allowed the Ukrainian delegation to learn about successful examples of citizen participation mechanisms such as citizen assemblies, school participatory budgets, and more.
The journey began in western Austria, where the group delved into initiatives in Vorarlberg (Bregenz and Wolfurt) and Salzburg.Â
Democracy in Austria is a blend of tradition and innovation. Traditional instruments of direct democracy are firmly anchored in the Austrian constitution, while innovative forms of citizen participation are increasingly being embraced, paving the way for enhanced public deliberation. From Good Practice of Citizen Assemblies in Bregenz to a pilot run of a citizen budget process in the Wolfurt district municipality the Ukrainian delegation gained invaluable insights from a diverse range of initiatives each implemented at various levels of government.
In Salzburg they learned about local participation and participatory budget project Stieglgründe II and of course they were welcomed in the City of Salzburg to get to know Spatial development and citizen participation.
A Wide Range of Democracy Initiatives in Vienna Â
Between September 19 and 21, 2024, the group explored various activities in Vienna that have been developed since the introduction of the city’s participation strategy in 2011.They visited the “Vienna Climate Team ” in the Ottakring district, an initiative to launch climate protection and adaptation projects based on citizen budgets and participatory governance.
At Vienna’s City Hall, the delegation participated in discussions about the “Vienna Democracy Strategy” and participation platforms, an initiative to strengthen democratic engagement in shaping the city’s future.
Representatives of WienXtra presented the “Participatory Children and Youth Million,” an innovative initiative that directly involves the younger generation in allocating a significant budget.
The visit also included a tour of the Austrian Parliament. Through the “Democracy Workshop” program, participants met parliamentary representatives, explored the legislative process, and learned how Austria’s political system works. They also exchanged knowledge and experiences in fostering democratic values at different political levels through discussions with other NGOs from Vienna as Faktor D and Foster Europe. Thanks to ambitious initiatives in participatory democracy, Austria’s capital was chosen as the European Capital of Democracy for 2024/25, following Barcelona (2023/24) as the second city to hold this title.