Citizen Empowerment

Creating public spaces for political opinion-forming

Strong citizen participation requires a vibrant, pluralistic and accessible public sphere in individual EU Member States and across Europe.

Such public spaces for political opinion-forming, which can enable the participation of emancipated citizens, require two things:

1. A free, pluralistic cultural and media landscape and

2. Free access to public data

Strengthening opportunities for political participation

Through broad participation, citizens can ensure that their individual and collective interests are heard and responded to by those in power and at the same time hold them accountable. Volt argues for strengthening EU democracy and the democracies of its member states by creating additional accountability mechanisms.

Volt proposes the following measures in this area:

1. Improving access to elections at European, national and local levels.

2. Strengthening the ability of citizens to influence policy beyond elections.

Strengthening cultural participation

Cultural diversity is a central component of our personal, regional, national and European identity. Cultural policy must enable, maintain and promote this diversity, encourage society to participate fully and create the necessary (free) spaces for this. Cultural offerings must be equally accessible to all social groups. Culture not only entertains and provides pleasure, it also educates, promotes creativity and critical thinking, stimulates political processes and strengthens understanding and integration. Cultural funding must be transparent and inclusive at all times. It must take into account the fact that social security is a particular challenge for many cultural professionals. Volt regards the entire spectrum of cultural activities as an important contribution to social cohesion and would like to see cultural identities from within and outside Europe represented equally and inclusively.