Days
Hours
Minutes

European Committee of the Regions

IMPORTANT – The event will take place in two different buildings:

Thursday 19: rue van Maerlant 2 (room VMA23)

Friday 20:  rue Belliard 99-101 (room JDE52)

Programme

13:30 - 14:00

Registration and coffee

14:00 - 14:10

Welcoming remarks by Moderator Shada Islam and by Patrick Molinoz, Chair of CIVEX commission, Committee of the Regions

Patrick Molinoz Patrick Molinoz
Shada Islam Shada Islam
14:10 - 14:20

Keynote address by Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography

Dubravka Šuica Dubravka Šuica
14:20 - 15:00

Session 1: Elections 2024 - latest state of play

2024 is a super election year. Elections will be held in 8 of the world's 10 most populous nations (Bangladesh, Brazil, India, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, Mexico) as well as in 16 African countries. Around 4 billion voters - approximately a quarter of the world's population - are expected to be heading to the polls this year. How will these elections impact the world in general and democracy in particular? Is the world becoming more or less democratic? Has the European Union done enough to promote democracy in partner countries?

Laura Thornton Laura Thornton
Pita Limjaroenrat Pita Limjaroenrat
Kevin Casas Zamora Kevin Casas Zamora
Shada Islam Shada Islam
15:00 - 15:15

Keynote speech: Elections and science by Professor Michael Bruter, London School of Economics

Michael Bruter Michael Bruter
15:15 - 15:35

Coffee break

15:35 - 16:20

Session 2: Mobilising young people at the ballot box: good practices and challenges

Several studies have shown that young people are turning away from democracy and politics. However, recent elections have highlighted how mobilised young people can impact the result of elections. Recently, South African voters have been queuing up for up to 6 hours to cast their ballot in a process through which the main political party will lose its absolute majority after 30 years of unchallenged political dominance. From Poland to Guatemala, Zambia (2021), Argentine (2023), Liberia ( 2023), Senegal (2024), people were able to shake up the status quo by voting en masse to bring opposition candidates to power. For better or worse, voters can make a change, sometimes radical one. Even if elections are not enough to make democracy a democracy, they still matter for voters and political alternance is a key deterrent for corruption and abuse of power. In the year of elections, young people hold the key to reinvigorating democracy through the ballot box.

Antonina Majchrzak Antonina Majchrzak
Asanda Luwaca Asanda Luwaca
Ann N. Nderitu Ann N. Nderitu
Luis Villaherrera Luis Villaherrera
Pita Limjaroenrat Pita Limjaroenrat
16:20 - 16:30

Presentation of OECD Trust Survey

Elsa Pilichowski Elsa Pilichowski
16:30 - 17:10

Session 3: International Democracy Day at 10

In this panel, speakers will reflect on the ten years that have passed since the first edition of the International Democracy Day Brussels conference, a decade of democratic recession, receding civic space and media freedom, yet also of mass protest. They will reflect on EU international democracy support during this decade and on the role democracy support will play during the next Commission.

Patrick Simonnet Patrick Simonnet
Elsa Pilichowski Elsa Pilichowski
Jerzy Pomianowski Jerzy Pomianowski
Richard Youngs Richard Youngs
17:10 - 17:20

Final remarks

Shada Islam Shada Islam
08:30 - 09:00

Registration and coffee

09:00 - 09:05

Welcome speech by Moderator Shada Islam

Shada Islam Shada Islam
09:05 - 09:10

Keynote address by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, Governor of Central Macedonia Region

Apostolos Tzitzikostas Apostolos Tzitzikostas
09:10 - 09:15

Video message by Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

Jutta Urpilainen Jutta Urpilainen
09:15 - 10:00

Session 4 - How to counter disinformation at a time of war?

Disinformation and misinformation are tools used by all sides in the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Palestine and Sudan. False and misleading information are shaping narratives, influencing public opinion, demoralising people, causing mass confusion and swaying international perceptions. In this panel, the trhee speakers will explain how a war of information is distorting narratives in their countries, they will explain its effects, and they will talk about the work they are doing to address this.

Iryna Fedoriv Iryna Fedoriv
Riham Abu Aita Riham Abu Aita
Khalid Albaih Khalid Albaih
10:00 - 10:15

Presentation on global electoral trends in 2024

Nico Jaspers Nico Jaspers
10:15 - 10:30

Keynote speech by Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuelan opposition leader

Leopoldo López Leopoldo López
10:30 - 10:50

Coffee break

10:50 - 11:40

Session 5: Gender Equality and Authoritarianism

As gender disparities widen in countries with authoritarian regimes or restrictive political environments, women's political participation is particularly at risk. Women rights defenders and gender equality political advocates are developing strategies as they become the targets of authoritarian governments and far-right movements. Amidst the numerous elections happening in the world this year, the resilience of young women activists is coming to the fore.

Saskia Brechenmacher Saskia Brechenmacher
Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu
Salma Al-Nims Salma Al-Nims
Sonia Gassemi Sonia Gassemi
Japleen Pasricha Japleen Pasricha
Viviane Ogou Viviane Ogou
11:40 - 11:55

Keynote speech by Simone Susskind, Actions in the Mediterranean

Simone Susskind Simone Susskind
11:55 - 12:45

Session 6: After the EU elections - what's next for EU support to democracy globally?

The European Parliament elections marked the beginning of a new term and ushered in a renewed EU leadership tasked with driving the EU agenda for the next five years. Representatives from various EU institutions will share their perspectives on the emerging priorities and focus areas. They will discuss how the incoming European Commission and newly elected European Parliament can translate these priorities into concrete actions that strengthen democracy.

Christian Leffler Christian Leffler
Chiara Adamo Chiara Adamo
Leopoldo López Leopoldo López
Sam van der Staak Sam van der Staak
12:45 - 12:50

Final remarks by Gary Klaukka, ENoP

Gary Klaukka Gary Klaukka
12:50 -

Lunch

Speakers

Apostolos Tzitzikostas

1st Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, Governor of Central Macedonia Region

Christian Leffler

Former Deputy Secretary-General of the EEAS and current Chair of the Board of Advisers of International IDEA

Antonina Majchrzak

Member of a Polish energy think tank

Dubravka Šuica

European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography

Chiara Adamo

Deputy to the Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace directorate in DG INTPA, European Commission

Laura Thornton

Senior director of global democracy programs, McCain Institute

Asanda Luwaca

Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency of South Africa, Club de Madrid WYDE Network of Young Decision-makers.

Ann N. Nderitu

Registrar of Political Parties in Kenya

Gary Klaukka

Executive Director, European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP)

Iryna Fedoriv

Co-founder, Holka

Nico Jaspers

Co-founder and CEO, Latana

Riham Abu Aita

Co-founder, Kashif

Simone Susskind

Founder, Actions in the Mediterranean

Saskia Brechenmacher

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu

Principal Adviser, Democracy and Inclusion, International IDEA

Salma Al-Nims

Senior Social Affairs officer, Gender Equality and Inclusion, UNESCWA

Sonia Gassemi

Women's rights activist and artist

Japleen Pasricha

Founder-CEO & Editor-in-chief of Feminism in India

Khalid Albaih

Sudanese political cartoonist, civil rights activist and freelance journalist

Luis Villaherrera

Founder and President, TRACODA

Viviane Ogou

Researcher and civil society leader

Samuel Kpartor

Deputy Secretary for Programs at the Federation of Liberian Youth

Pita Limjaroenrat

Former leader of Move Forward Party, Thailand

Michael Bruter

Professor of political science and European politics at the London School of Economics

Leopoldo López

Venezuelan opposition leader

Elsa Pilichowski

Director for Public Governance at the OECD

Sam van der Staak

Director for Europe, International IDEA

Patrick Molinoz

Chair of CIVEX commission, Committee of the Regions

Kevin Casas Zamora

Secretary-General, International Idea

Richard Youngs

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Shada Islam

Managing Director, New Horizons Project Geopolitical Strategy Advice and Analysis

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