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Brief Intro

The European Capital of Democracy is a Europe-wide initiative to innovate and strengthen democracy. From 2023, each year one city will be selected by a jury of experts and a jury of 10,000 European citizens – and granted this honorary title. Together with its citizens, the European Capital of Democracy curates, organises and hosts a variety of activities that strengthen democracy. Visitors from all over Europe – politicians, experts, civil society actors, artists, citizens and media representatives – are invited to take part in the initiative and make the city a stage for European democracy.

Media relations

Stefan Sindelar

CEO, ECoD gemeinnützige GmbH

office@capitalofdemocracy.eu
+43 660 10 27 903

  • European Capital of Democracy NPO appoints Alexander Heichlinger as local representative in Barcelona
    European Capital of Democracy NPO appoints Alexander Heichlinger as local representative in Barcelona

    Local government expert Alexander Heichlinger will take on the role as point of contact and envoy for the European Capital of Democracy initiative (ECoD) in the title-holding City of Barcelona.

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  • Introducing the First European Capital of Democracy
    Introducing the First European Capital of Democracy

    Barcelona designated as the first European Capital of Democracy Following a vote by several thousand members of a pan-European citizen jury, Barcelona will host a year of events dedicated to strengthening European democracy.  Barcelona has been awarded the title of European Capital of Democracy 2023/24. The result was announced at a press conference in Barcelona […]

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  • Exploring Sarajevo: Promoting Intergenerational Participation in Urban Life
    Exploring Sarajevo: Promoting Intergenerational Participation in Urban Life

    From the 22nd to the 24th of February, representatives from ten European cities gathered in Sarajevo for the ECoD City Network Meeting, which focused on intergenerational participation in urban life. The event provided a valuable opportunity for city officials to share best practices and learn from each other, with insightful workshops from representatives of Antwerp and Braga.

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  • Amina Krvavac designated President of the Jury for the European Museum of the Year
    Amina Krvavac designated President of the Jury for the European Museum of the Year

    The ECoD Experts’ Jury member and Executive Director of the War Childhood Museum is the first person from the Balkans to be elected as President of the Jury for the selection of the European Museum of the Year. English translation of an article in buka Magazine / Culture and entertainment (Kultura i zabava) by Slađan […]

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  • Making a difference for democracy
    Making a difference for democracy

    2022 was the year that brought European Capital of Democracy to life, building an international network of political innovators and democracy defenders across all Council of Europe member states. Find out who made this possible. We are all excited and eager to welcome this next year with bright eyes focused on the future of ECoD. […]

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  • Improving Democracy through Citizens’ Participation
    Improving Democracy through Citizens’ Participation

    Results of the ECoD Citizens’ Jury “State of Democracy” pilot survey In November 2022, ECoD founder Helfried Carl and Stefan Sindelar presented the results of our Citizens‘ Jury pilot study about the “State of Democracy” in Europe at the Council of Europe’s World Forum for Democracy’s session “Youth to the rescue“.  The survey shows that most participants have a […]

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  • ECoD condemns sentencing of Mayor Imamoglu
    ECoD condemns sentencing of Mayor Imamoglu

    The Innovation in Politics Institute and the European Capital of Democracy NPO join the strong condemnation by @Eurocities of yesterday’s sentencing of the Mayor of Istanbul, Mr Ekrem Imamoglu, as nothing more than a politically motivated attack on a member of the opposition. Mr Imamoglu has been a supporter of the European Capital of Democracy […]

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  • The ECoD Programme Year: Be part of a unique democratic journey
    The ECoD Programme Year: Be part of a unique democratic journey

    ECoD Programme Manager Mathis Dippon talks about what to expect from the first ECoD programme year.

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  • Acts of Democracy 2: Organizations and Initiatives That Make Democracy More Inclusive
    Acts of Democracy 2: Organizations and Initiatives That Make Democracy More Inclusive

    By Kristian Petro The European Youth Forum This initiative includes youth from all over Europe and works for better representation, rights, and democracy among young people. Every year, they announce a European Youth Capital, which turns into a hub of projects and initiatives throughout the year. The initiatives are mostly connected to the representation and […]

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  • Three Cities on shortlist for first European Capital of Democracy
    Three Cities on shortlist for first European Capital of Democracy

    Experts’ Jury members from left to right: Amina Krvavac, Bruno Kaufmann, Antonella Valmorbida, Robert Krimmer, Jaimie Just 5 December, Vienna: Barcelona, Braga and Brussels in final voting by Citizens’ Jury to become the first European Capital of Democracy 2023/24. Three cities that are frontrunners in democracy have been shortlisted by the Experts’ Jury in the […]

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  • 13 Cities join forces to strengthen European Democracy
    13 Cities join forces to strengthen European Democracy

    19 October 2022, Vienna, Austria: 13 Cities from all over Europe have joined a network of dedicated cities that are frontrunners in democracy. The European Capital of Democracy’s City Network, with the aim to share expertise on democracy and to change our world for the better, is currently celebrating its launch in Vienna. “We are proud […]

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  • 13 cities compete to become the first European Capital of Democracy
    13 cities compete to become the first European Capital of Democracy

    Democracy is our best bet to restore peace, protect our civil rights and fight climate change. One of 13 cities from eight countries has the chance to become the very first European Capital of Democracy. Each participating city joining the European Capital of Democracy Initiative becomes a champion of democratic innovation, fostering cohesion, collaborative opportunities […]

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The press kit contains ECoD Flyer, ECoD NPO, Innovation in Politics Institute and City Network factsheets, CI/CD-Guidelines, Programme visualisation and ECoD logos.

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