Starting Point
In the Europe 2020 strategy, the EU has defined its objectives for the next decade. The consequences of this far-reaching decision will be felt by European citizens even on the local and municipal level. We hold the view that decisions about the future of Europe should not be a matter for Brussels alone – which is why we invite you today to make your own personal contribution. The demand for more democracy is more urgent than ever.
The Idea
Decisions are only the full stops behind democratic processes. The way of reaching such a decision is occasionally just as important as the destination itself. We want to use the “Vote Europe“ project to render this process visible, exploiting the full potential of the Internet. We hold the view that good arguments count as much as votes. This is why “Vote-Europe“ is not confined to establishing the range of existing opinions. Our real purpose is to involve as many people as possible actively in the ongoing discussion about the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. We would like to invite you: become a member of the virtual Vote Europe Parliament, engage in its debates and use your vote to join us and others when we pass resolutions concerning the future of Europe.
The Vote Europe Parliament
The Vote Europe Parliament does more than hold votes. It is as least as important to step to the virtual microphone and to defend your position. The instruments of this website are meant to represent the activities of a Member of Parliament. You can:
- design your MP’s office,
- gather information and pass this information on to others,
- speak in Parliament and assess other speeches,
- heckle other speakers – and deal with hecklers through quick repartee,
- cast your vote.
How the voting works
Votes in the Vote Europe Parliament can be cast anytime over a period of app. 4 weeks. Updated interim results are displayed throughout this period. Before casting your vote, you should gather all relevant information and discuss the results of your research with your fellow Parliamentarians. A range of community tools are provided for that purpose. Diagrams show you how much time you still have for each vote. Once the voting period has expired and the votes have been cast, the issue is taken off the Parliamentary agenda and replaced with a new one. The results, speeches including comments and background information etc. are collected in the archive.
Results and their consequences
The Vote Europe project is sponsored by the EU as part of its Europe for Citizens programme. This is why it is very important for us to forward the results, the debates and your opinions to the people who are directly involved in the European decision-making processes. After each vote, a Newsletter (“Record of Parliamentary Proceedings“) will be compiled, featuring the result of the vote, the best speeches and comments (as rated by the users), the best interjections and the most interesting information material, accompanied by recommendations for further reading and tips on where to find other working material.
