Doc. 8013

10 February 1998

Assessment of measures and experiences of member states to strengthen participatory democracy

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Gross and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

The Assembly,

1.        Considering the debate on the democratic crisis in many member states, particularly the gap between citizens and institutions and the need to strengthen participatory democracy at all levels (local, regional and national) with new instruments (see the report on instruments of citizen participation in representative democracy, Doc. 7781 and the report on the democratic functioning of national parliaments, Doc. 7961) ;

2.        Considering the recent legislative provisions taken by a growing number of states to increase citizens’ participation in political life ,

3.       Recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

 gather documentation on the various experiences resulting from the application of these new provisions,

 assess the different procedures relating to the exercise of rights granted to citizens by these new provisions,

 analyse the way in which these new rights are perceived and received by citizens,

 draw lessons from these experiences with a view to improving existing rights and introducing such rights where they are not yet in place.

Signed : ¹

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Antretter, Germany, SOC

Busic, Croatia, EPP/CD

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Columberg, Switzerland, EPP/CD

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Lekberg, Sweden, SOC

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Melcak, Czech Republic, SOC

Ragnarsdottir, Iceland, EDG

Recoder, Spain, LDR

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Sincai, Romania, SOC

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Staes, Belgium, EPP/CD

Volcic, Italy, SOC

Vyvadil, Czech Republic, SOC