Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Nearly 300 signatories penned an open letter urging European Parliament candidates to prioritize democracy amidst global authoritarianism. The letter proposes 10 actions for safeguarding democracy within the EU and abroad.
It has come to light that about 300 signatories have signed an open 10-point letter before next month’s European Parliament election, expressing that lawmakers should be putting democracy as one of their major agendas in an increasingly authoritarian world.
According to the Associated Press, The letter, which was unleashed on 16 May 2024, calls for widening powers to defend the rule of law, ensure new digital technologies protect human rights, and put democracy at the heart of the European Union’s security, migration, energy, and trade agendas.
Who Signed the Open Letter Urging Democratic Focus in Europe?
Titled “A Call to Defend Democracy: 10 Priorities for the EU,” it was signed by pro-democracy institutions and political and civic leaders. Signatories also included Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the ex-European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, and several former prime ministers, including Gordon Brown of the UK, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain and Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.
What Challenges Does Europe Face in Upholding Democracy?
“These converging challenges have formed a real risk that in this global election year, EU member states as well as some of its key partners may see the ascent of anti-democratic political actors,” according to the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which created the open letter.
Last month, International IDEA stated in a report that voters in 19 countries, including in three of the world’s largest democracies, are widely uncertain about whether their political elections are free and fair, and that numerous favour a strong, undemocratic leader.
What Measures Are Proposed to Strengthen European Democracy?
The letter detailed 10 proposals covering two major areas: The strengthening of democracy and the rule of law within the EU to fight challenges such as extremism, election interference, the space of manipulative information and threats to journalists; the EU must maintain its founding values in the face of security, migration, energy and trade pressures, and to mainstream democracy in EU external and growth agendas, shielding electoral integrity and securing adequate resources.
Moreover, The letter stated that there is “a real risk that in this global election year, EU member states as well as some of its critical partners may see the ascent of anti-democratic political actors.”
“As we know, there are challenges to democracy within the borders of the European Union,” Kevin Casas-Zamora, the 35-member International IDEA’s secretary-general, briefed The Associated Press.
“It is important that they pay attention to dealing with those challenges in an effective way so as to protect the credibility of the EU’s message on democracy, which I insist is key, given the very unpromising winds that are blowing when it comes to democracy globally,” Casas-Zamora contended. It comes before the European Parliament election of June 6-9 vote in the 27-member coalition of 450 million people who will be choosing 720 lawmakers for the next five years.
