Foster Europe Foundation has triggered a debate on how to widen, foster, and invigorate the cooperation and coordination of regional and local entities, of civil society, cultural institutions, and business to a pan-European teamworking.

A vivid democratic European Union that follows the path of ever closer integration must be build on a vivid Europe from below.

A free democracy must be built of free media, independent civil society and an open civic space for action, expression, and assembly.

In the Danube region the media freedom ranking of member states spreads from rank 13 to rank 112 with a bulk of nations raking below 50 according to the RSF Media Freedom ranking 2021. None of the Danube riparian countries is listed in the top “white group” of countries performing best in media freedom. This disastrous diagnosis of one of the fundamental rights, enshrined in the EU treaties, is directly connected and intertwined with the diagnosis of a shrinking civic space in the region. There is a clear tendency by some governments to gain a hegemony over the media landscape and to take control over civic space.

Foster Europe is inviting to discuss the impact of governmental direct, indirect, and private media control and abuse as well as shrinking civic space in the Danube region.  How do we regain media freedom and civic space in the Danube region and what can the role of the EU?

Registration

The registration is closed now. If you have registered you will receive the direct link of the online conference in email right before the event. If you have any questions please contact office@foster-europe.org.

Update/ Recording:

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PROGRAMM

OPENING SESSION:

Welcome and introduction Stefan August Lütgenau

Moderation, “House rules”, How to use Zoom, Stefan August Lütgenau, Foster Europe, Foundation for strong European Regions, Austria

PANEL DEBATE:

Mila Stancheva, Civic Participation Forum, Bulgaria

Oana Preda, Foundation Ce-re, Resource Center for Public Participation, Romania

András Dési, Author, Deputy Editor-in-Chief / 168 Óra, Hungary

Irina Nedeva, Association of European Journalists, Bulgaria

CONCLUDING REMARKS:

Main messages from the Workshop, Stefan August Lütgenau, Foster Europe, Foundation for strong European Regions, Austria