The project was a great success - the participants appreciated the academic input and work in the committees and have formed networks (Facebook e.g.), which are very promising for future projects. Quite a few of the participants want to help organise/take part in these - 5 of them will go to Brandbjerg in March 2008 to run youth parliament workshops for Danish High School students, e.g.

Waves of Democracy was organised in close cooperation with New Europe Nyt Europa and The Europe House in Rhodes . It was a challenge, we must admit, with many partners, countries, trips to be organised etc., but this has to be seen in the light of the outcome. The EU Commission and the Parliament have recognized the project, and Commissioner Margot Wallström is positive towards establishing a mega Waves of Democracy in 2009 with 10 partners, still there are administrative problems to be overcome in Brussels.

 
We hope that the YouTube video and the supplementary Citizens' Key to Europe campaign may play a major role in this process. Along with the Leaflet , which has been produced about the project as well.

The project has been handsomely supported by the European Parliament but also by local sponsors. We thank them all for this generous support.

It is our wish that the distribution of the Citizens' Agenda, the video, the leaflet etc. might be a small but significant step towards setting participatory democracy high on the European agenda in several member countries - and after some relaxation I am sure we the organisers would be ready to launch a follow-project.

On behalf of the organisers

Nina Nørgaard
IUC Europe

www.wavesofdemocracy.eu