Protecting and developing European democracy is of paramount importance, especially today. Within the EU, the stability and prosperity of many strong states have rested on upholding the fundamental values of democracy. The recent trend of a rising far right and authoritarian actors reminds us that democracy is not something to be taken for granted — it requires constant care and protection.
JEF Finland demands stricter and more comprehensive measures to safeguard a democratic EU and Europe.
The changes made to the electoral system in Hungary in recent years, together with the systematic weakening of the rule of law, serve as a warning example that EU membership alone does not prevent the rise of the far right and authoritarian rule. To protect European democracy, it is essential to counter authoritarian populism, corruption and other threats capable of undermining the foundations of democracy. Member states that trample on the Union’s core principles and values must be subject to the procedure under Article 7 of the Treaty, which, where necessary, leads to the loss of a member state’s voting rights in the Council or the suspension of its membership.
We demand large-scale and determined strengthening of democratic institutions, the safeguarding of electoral processes, the promotion of media freedom, and support for civil society. The European Union must lead by example in good democratic practice and promote it elsewhere in the world.
The horror stories of Western states crumbling in the face of the far right may feel distant in Finland, but protecting democracy also requires active citizen participation and inclusion in decision-making. Citizens must be given access to information about the state of their country’s democracy that is independent of the state, and they have the right to take part in the democratic process by voting, engaging in civil society organisations, and expressing their opinions peacefully.
“Democracy is our shared heritage, and protecting it is a shared responsibility. Right now we are seeing a worrying trend that requires active measures from the EU”, declares JEF Finland’s sitting President Amanda Alvesalo.
We recognise that, at present, the opportunities for an ordinary EU citizen to participate are needlessly difficult and complicated. We demand that the EU take steps to increase democracy and civic engagement. Since 2019, JEF Finland has called for the introduction of a Youth Initiative, which would give young people greater opportunities to participate in EU decision-making. The Youth Initiative would enable young people who are not yet eligible to vote to take part in EU advocacy. In addition, the minimum number of signatures required for a European Citizens’ Initiative should be lowered from one million to 200,000.