Council of Europe conference

1
Council of Europe conference

• The Initiative Referendum Institute Europe
• THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY
• INITIATIVES REFERENDUMS
• - BRINGING IN THE PEOPLE
• Presentation by
• Bruno Kaufmann
• Barcelona, 19 November 2004

2
EU-Referendum
3
EU-Referendum

• More than 250 million citizens
• In more than 10 countries
• Within 16 months
• On the same issue
• The EU Constitution

4
The biggest test of direct democracy ever in
history

• "This is a seismic shift in EU politics. The EU
  is on the cusp of a direct democracy revolution.
• (Daniel Keohane, Center for European Reform)
• But prevailing perception is still negative
• The decision to call a referendum on the EU
  constitution is a serious threat to democracy as
  referendums produce tabloid politics.
• (Chris Patten, former Governor of Hong Kong.)

5
Referendums are stillseen as a problem instead
of an opportunity for

• Intensifying the interaction between governors
  and governed
• Extending the know-how on European politics with
  the citizenry
• Bringing in the people as sovereign actors

6
Referendums on Europe in Europe are here to stay

• 41 referendums in 23 countries on issues of
  European integration, 32 passed
• 31 votes since 1992 alone, 24 passed
• On average more than two thirds of the
  electorates took part 67 (In comparison in the
  six EU parliamentary elections 52 took part)
• Since 1995 all EU referendums but one (Sweden,
  2003) have been binding.

7
The growing number of popular votes on issues
is part of a global trend

• Basic democracy standards
• In 1980 46 in 54 countries
• Now 71 in 132 countries
• Breakthrough for direct democracy
• After the end of the Cold War,
• almost half of the 1500 nationwide referendum
  votes in 15 years.
• Almost all new national constitutions provide for
  some forms of DD.

8
Modern direct democracy

• Complement (not alternative) to indirect
  democracy
• Together they constitute a modern representative
  democracy
• DD is a set of instruments, which give the
  citizen the right to be involved in the political
  agenda-setting (e.g. popular initiatives) and to
  be part of the decision-making process on issues
  (e.g. referendums)
• Not to be confused with assembly democracy, the
  direct elections of politicians and plebiscitary
  democracy referendums triggered and legally
  controlled by a ruling president or regime

9
1994 First CoE Recommendation to introduce
institutions of direct democracy on the local
level.

• Establishment of initiative right in many
  municipalities across Europe incl. most Central
  European Countries
• Variety of forms
• Agenda initiative
• Statutory initiative
• Constitutional initiative.
• Counter proposal

10
Initiative Right
11
Another European test caseThe New EU Citizens
Initiative

• One million citizens
• Significant number of countries
• Invitation to the EU Commission
• European Law is required

12
DD Basics

• Fine-tuning of power-sharing
• Integration of minorities into society
• The soul of Democracy is communication
• Accountability is good, bearing responsibility is
  even better

13
IR Design Elements

• exclusion of issues, entry hurdles, majority
  requirements
• Role of Parliament, finances and transparency,
  supervision
• Periods of time, additional DD tools
• Administrative support, communicative
  infrastructure

14
Reform steps

• Municipal level
• From agenda initiative to full initiative
• Regional and national level
• From non-binding to binding decisions
• European and global level
• The indirect effect of a direct tool!

15
The quote of the day

• Obstacles to democracy have little to do with
  culture or religion, and much more to do with the
  desire of those in power to maintain their
  position at any cost.
• (Kofi Annan, Secretary General, UN)

16
Thank you!

• Thank you!
• www.iri-europe.org