The upcoming European elections are crucial for the EU as it fights Eurosceptic and far-right alarmism. They will shape the EU's political landscape and define an active and inclusive role for citizens and civil society organisations.

Against this backdrop, the EESC, the home of organised civil society, is holding its first Civil Society Week: Rise Up for Democracy! on 4-7 March 2024.

This event will bring together people of all ages and backgrounds, including young people, journalists from all EU Member States, representatives from civil society organisations, stakeholders and EU institutions, who will engage in lively discussions, highlighting civil society's contribution to the social, political and economic issues that affect our everyday lives.

As democracy starts with participation, this new EESC flagship event will combine five major initiatives:

• Civil Society Days, where people will voice their expectations on crucial issues for our democracies;
• European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), the annual high-level "rendezvous" for future ECI organisers, setting their next legislative target;
• Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS!), a unique youth event bringing the EU closer to young people from across EU Member States and beyond, including young representatives from the EU candidate countries and the UK;
• Civil Society Prize, which this year rewards creative and innovative non-profit projects for their support to people with mental health conditions;
• and, last but not least, the Journalists' seminar, with journalists from all EU Member States, who will experience the Committee in action first-hand and report back to their countries.

Our Civil Society Week will be a timely platform for organised civil society and citizens to express their views on key issues for Europe's new legislative term. Most importantly, it will encourage voter participation and a pro-European attitude.

The input generated by the Civil Society Week and its participants will feed into a resolution setting out civil society's main messages for a more democratic Europe with a view to the European elections. 

I invite you to join forces with us in this important endeavour: please contribute to our discussions and encourage citizens and associations to take part in the European elections. Don't miss this opportunity! The EU needs its citizens to speak up and be present.

Laurenţiu Plosceanu

Vice-President for Communication