Civil Society Day organised as part of the European Year of Citizens by the European Economic and Social Council (EESC) brought together over 250 civil society representatives which agreed that European leaders can no longer rely solely on elected politicians to pass on messages from their citizens. Participants also called on the EU institutions to stop putting procedures before results.

Participants of the Civil Society Day organised on 7 March as part of the European Year of Citizens by the European Economic and Social Council (EESC), stressed that if the EU wants to regain the trust of its citizens and continue to operate, then all governments, EU leaders and civil society stakeholders must make the case for EU reform. Local engagement of people, their businesses and associations will give more powers to EU civil society, to bodies such as the European Economic and Social Council and ultimately to European citizens.

Over 250 civil society representatives gathered in Brussels to take part on this event to seek ways in which the young and old in Europe could gain better knowledge of their EU rights and become involved in the democratic life of the Union. Civil society represents millions of Europeans in all walks of life. They agreed that the crisis has been further strengthening its role, both as a mouthpiece for voicing discontent, and also in providing an extra pair of hands, to act where help is needed and where budget cut-backs have reduced the welfare state to a minimum.

In parallel, EESC President, Staffan Nilsson launched the book “Civil society and democracy – the citizens’ shortcut to the EU”. According to the EESC, the book will serve as a guide for how citizens’ organisations can make their voices heard more clearly in Brussels. The examples, drawn from all over Europe, reflect just a fraction of all the work and passion that is put into civil society action on a local level and show how it can be successfully amplified on a European level.