Citizens’ presence in the democracy is done through citizens having a constitutional right and the exercise of their citizenship to participate in decisions formulated by the government that affect them directly. The European Union (EU) understands that this is a process of decision-making that is affecting about 440 million people in 27 member states. It doesn’t have to be stressed how pivotal the voter’s engagement is when it comes to EU politics’ transformation. In this article, the role of the voter in the European context is scrutinised: it can serve to build a more democratic civic society, it can help produce better policy, and finally, it fosters stronger European citizenship and nationality.
As an enhancing idea, the DEMOCRACY TREE project offers a special learning process that is based on the philosophy that young people should be engaged with the electorate in their community and the history of democracy through a virtual journey. Through this initiative, young people get to understand the evolution of democratic values, their origins, and the extent of their application by the EU member states, using historical knowledge as relevant information on current EU practices. Using the methodology of the DEMOCRACY TREE project, youth workers can bring into depth the extent to which the young generation is determining the changes they want in policies that govern them.
Europe epitomises itself as an authentic democratic model in which power, checks, and balances, and ultimately the responsibilities of the administration are entrusted to the elected representatives who operate under the constrictions of people’s power. Voter participation offers the best instrument for ensuring that EU policies adapt to society’s concerns, values, and priorities. This is the most vital tool for that. The European Parliament polls or the continent-wide consultations of the citizens, whatever the issues, can range widely from the economy and the environment to other controversial topics. This serves to support democratic decision-making and is probably as important as having such democratic policies.
Notwithstanding the significance of voter fulfilment, the EU is confronting limits in inhibiting citizens from participating in political processes. Low voter turnout and the idea that Europe is not simply for everyone are barriers to effective engagement. The Europeans themselves do not feel relevant anymore in our modern societies, and they believe that Europe holds no significance. Furthermore, limitations like language, culture, and institutional values can prevent citizens from being in touch with EU policies and from playing an active role in decision-making processes, respectively.
To make the EU’s work in involving voters complete, it involves communication with the voters through the dissemination of information, supported by all-access voting processes. Charities, as in “This Time I’m Voting,” play an important role in the field of mobilisation of European citizens and sending them a message that the European Parliament elections are significant while EU policies affect the day-to-day lives of European citizens. The heralding of digital tools and platforms, for example, the EU Citizens’ Initiative and online consultation, has ushered citizens to not only express themselves but also to overhaul European policies directly.
Voters in the EU are not only the bearers of policies but also generate a bond of belonging among European citizens, which can be referred to as an ownership feeling. People with different origins will not be able to follow exclusionary policies only by taking part in elections at the EU level and transnational debates. On the contrary, they will become active participants in the future European project. The Erasmus+ Project, which supports mobility and the intercultural exchange of youngsters within Europe, is one of the best initiatives that expresses a European identity based on common values and experiences.
Youth workers are significant actors in the development of democracy, cutting across different actions like the Democracy Social Network Project in this age. The role of democracy education is to teach the younger generation about the rich history and relevance of democracy in their own lives. This way, youth workers give the responsibility to the younger people to contribute actively to fashioning the future of European society. Through the process of practical participation and contemplation, youth will probably develop a significant sense of European citizenship and a dedication to democratic values.
In the sphere of EU governance in the 21st century, citizens’ involvement in local politics cannot be underestimated. The EU and its citizens can achieve this by using citizen empowerment as well as initiative projects like the DEMOCRACY TREE project; thus, they can maintain their democratic standing and their policy effectiveness, as well as cultivate a strong sense of belonging among their varied communities. We shall give a new life to our democratic and citizen-oriented EU by perpetuating the idea that such a union would represent a common cause. It would ensure that the Union remains a symbol whereby collective aspirations and preferences are represented and the values Europeans believe in and hold dear are upheld.
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