With all the formidable challenges that confront us, none is more daunting than that of active participation in a common solution. Moving outside Facebook’s personalised news-feed of self-confirmation and a willingness to consider views and beliefs outside our own may be difficult, but it is vital to transformative positive change.
Whether we like it or not, the manner in which we respond together to the global challenges will determine our fate. In this respect, we have to fight tirelessly to reduce the existing barriers to increase participation in our democratic life. It is not enough for voting to be easy; people have to want to take part. For people to want to participate in the political process, they must be convinced that their participation actually does matter —it must have a tangible impact on policy decisions, and improve people’s well-being.
If we want an EU capable of transforming our societies, it needs to have real capacity to deliver for the common good and it must function in an open and transparent way. Democracy and sovereignty at European level should enrich democracy and sovereignty at national level. For us, this is a key moment to shape a new positive future, to work for unity, cohesion and transformation, against divisions and new walls, fighting against, nationalism and populism.