Citizen Participation through HomeParliaments

A dynamic Europe needs citizen participation. This requires innovative and widely ac- cessible methods - such as the Pulse of Europe HomeParliaments.

We invite interested citizens to meet privately and to host political discussions. We then link the discussions to political decision-makers in Brussels. Partners in previ- ous rounds were Michael Roth (Minister of State for Europe at the German For- eign Office), (S&D), (Greens/EFA) (), and (EPP). Thus, we give several thousand citi- zens from all over Europe the opportunity to participate in forming opinions in political parliaments in especially important issues - supported by Pulse of Europe. The video explaining the HomeParliaments can be found here.

Convening your #HomeParliament With the HomeParliaments we offer a platform for differentiated and constructive dis- cussions among the population on current political issues. In the process, prejudices between groups and against politics can be reduced through lively, fact-based discus- sions. Individuals feel that they are contributing to the political process and their opin- ions are being heard. This form of participation aims to increase citizen confidence in the EU by establishing a link between its citizens throughout Europe and decision- makers in Brussels.

A HomeParliaments is a deliberate discussion about politics ● A HomeParliament is a private get-together of between 5 and 8 people, who debate and then vote on a specific European topic. Anyone is welcome to reg- ister as a host and invite friends, family, colleagues, neighbours to participate. ● Pulse of Europe will provide you with the following materials: a list of questions pertaining to the topic at hand and a list of pros and cons that aid and enhance the discussion. ● The results of every HomeParliment are then presented to politicians who have committed themselves to the process and will respond to the opinions of the people ● #HomeParliaments may be conducted in analogue and video-conference form. ● Watch our video of a sample HomeParliment here.

This fall, citizens will be discussing the future of European solidarity. • The third edition will take place from September 19th until November 1st 2020. • The following questions will be discussed:

a. Economic solidarity: Should EU countries provide more financial assis- tance to other member states in times of crisis, even if this would mean less money for their own economy? b. Social inequality: Should the EU use the opportunity of economic recon- struction to counteract social inequality between the Member States? c. Intergenerational equity: Should only green innovation and green jobs be promoted through EU financial assistance to support future generations?

Project partners and scope The Pulse of Europe #HomeParliaments take place in close cooperation between Pulse of Europe, openPetition and Democracy International. In this way, we will involve several thousand citizens throughout Europe in #HomeParliaments. A constructive po- litical discussion on this scale positively impacts public opinion about the EU. In addi- tion, opinions from different countries and social groups are represented to political stakeholders. The project is funded by the German federal public authority Bundeszen- trale für politische Bildung.

About Pulse of Europe: Pulse of Europe is a grassroots citizens movement that pursues no partisan aims, is not linked to any interest group. We are independent and financed exclusively through donations. Our aim is to ensure that Europe, now and in the future, remains united and democratic and continues to be a community in which regard for human rights, the rule of law, freedom of speech as well as toler- ance and respect remain integral parts of its essence.

Get in touch https://homeparliaments.eu/en/ Jan Osenberg +49-162-5911159 [email protected]

Let’s be the Pulse of Europe!