Stand Up for Europe is a non-profit committed to bridging the gap between EU citizens and institutions through active civic engagement. |
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Our latest 'Brussels Lunch Talks' |
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Interview with MEP Marina Kaljurand |
Interview with MEP Damian Boeselager |
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Interview with MEP Vania Neto |
Interview with MEP César Luena |
Publications |
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Europe Get Ready! Citizens' Dialogue on Crisis Preparedness Recommendations Report & Youth ManifestoHow can Europe best prepare to face any crisis situation may arrise? From geopolitical tensions to natural & human-induced disasters as well as hybrid threats, young people have discussed what are the weak points the EU has to work on and they have proposed concrete actions on how to tackle them. Read the full set of recommendations in the report! |
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Youth Recommendations for the Future of the EU: Guidelines for PolicymakersSee how passionate young voices tackled Europe’s biggest challenges: from climate action and security to equality and youth empowerment. Dive into the full report to see the ideas shaping our shared future! |
AFD Ascendant: Why the radical right is on the rise in GermanyBy Vladimir Kovtun |
Europe at a Crossroads: The First EU Enlargement Forum and Its Aftershocks in the European ParliamentBy Katarina Stanojević |
Russian drones over Poland: The beginning of a new status quo for Europe?By Vladimir Kovtun
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France on the edge: Why the French political crisis mattersBy Vladimir Kovtun
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Double Election Day: Poland and Romania’s Battle for Europe’s Democratic FutureBy Emerson Katz and Thomas Campello |
MEET THE NEW COMMISSION!By Drakoulis Goudis
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12/06/2026
"Democratic resilience." It appears in EU strategy documents, political speeches, and now a Commission-level framework. But what does it actually mean and more importantly, what does it have to do with you?
We took that question to the streets of Brussels. The answers, more often than not, were a pause and a shrug. Yet the concept is not as distant from everyday life as it might seem. Democratic resilience is, at its core, the ability of a society to protect and renew its democracy in the face of pressure from disinformation, foreign interference, declining trust, or political polarisation.
19/05/2026
The current international context is marked by the return of war in various parts of the world, as well as by the collapse of international balances that were partly based on law and international organizations. The United Nations are more marginalized than ever, and the declarations underpinning international law are as well.
As for the European Union’s “soft power” approach, it too now appears outdated in a world where force and power once again seem to be the norm.
08/05/2026
How can citizens' assemblies help reverse the tide of democratic erosion in Europe - and what does it take to make them work?
With concrete recommendations on the table and cautionary tales from France and Brussels, the question is no longer whether citizens' assemblies are useful - but how to ensure they are actually taken seriously.
21/04/2026
Is participatory democracy in the EU genuinely shaping policy - or is it just a sophisticated exercise in political listening without real power?
Between 24 and 26 April 2026, the second session of the European Citizens’ Panel on Preparedness is taking place online, bringing together citizens from across the continent to address challenges ranging from public health emergencies to climate-related disasters. It builds on an intensive first session held last month in Brussels, where discussions moved beyond identifying shared challenges toward developing concrete, actionable solutions. If participatory democracy is to play a meaningful role in shaping Europe’s response to future crises, this panel will be a crucial test.
10/04/2026
How can elections in a small country in Europe mark a turning point for the future of the continent?
On 12 April, Hungary will hold its most consequential parliamentary elections in years. Recent polls put opposition leader Péter Magyar's Tisza party at 58% - far ahead of Viktor Orbán's Fidesz at 35%. After sixteen years in power, the man who turned Hungary into Europe's blueprint for illiberal democracy is facing his most serious threat. With a system built on media control, judicial capture and rural patronage now seemingly turning against him, and with Magyar's rise from Fidesz insider to opposition leader, the question is no longer just who will govern Hungary - but what the answer will mean for the future of democracy across Europe.
30/03/2026
On the 18th March 2026, Stand Up for Europe organized the event “Europe Get Ready” under the framework of CitiDem, an EU-funded project under the CERV Programme aiming at strengthening citizen participation by equipping people with the knowledge, tools, and space to engage in democratic life.
Anticipating the 8th European Citizens’ Panel on the topic of crisis preparedness taking place between the 20 and 22 March, our event aimed to open the discussion and feed directly into the current debate on the Citizens’ Engagement Platform. These panels are a key participatory instrument of the European Union, designed to give citizens a direct voice by encouraging them to share their ideas and contribute to shaping the European Commission’s future roadmap.
07/02/2026
Iran is facing a humanitarian crisis, described as the deadliest wave of repression since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since late December, the country has been shaken by nationwide protests met with an exceptionally violent state crackdown, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, mass arrests, and widespread human rights abuses. Entire cities have been subjected to siege-like conditions, including widespread communication cuts and the deliberate targeting of civilians.
Stand Up for Europe is a movement of citizens reclaiming their hope for a better future, something only a united Europe can provide. Stand Up for Europe unites citizens from across the continent who are ready to build such a future through a more democratic and federal Europe, a Europe more in touch with the needs of its people, and thus a Europe that is better equipped to tackle global challenges.
With the occasion of the Conference on the Future of Europe (2021-2022), Stand Up for Europe has been active in creating information flows between citizens and European civil servants, civil society organizations, the EU institutions, and has supported and coordinated the creation of spaces (online and in-person) for citizens to voice their opinions and share their ideas about this European project. The Conference on the Future of Europe is an unprecedented occasion to increase deliberative democracy in the EU.
Join us to discover ways to actively participate in citizens' activities and stay up to date with the latest developments at our shared European transnational spaces. The future is yours!
