Today, more than ever one needs an
independent and non-governmental private initiative intended to
promote and support an accelerated democratisation process at
European and international level. Security, notably democratic
security, have become planetary challenges.
Beyond, but whenever needed in close
co-operation with European institutions such as the Council of
Europe and the European Union, the European Democracy Forum
encourages private and public synergies and projects relevant to
democratisation in the political, social and cultural
fields.
In this perspective, the Forum mobilises some
of the most prominent European and international experts on a very
broad and free multi-disciplinary basis, giving room to such
diversification and improvisation as requested by a rapidly
changing geopolitical and economic landscape.
Therefore, the initial programme of the
European Democracy Forum gives room to both innovation and
flexibility. It aims at allowing the private and public spheres to
associate and identity themselves with value-loaded projects in
the various fields where democratisation and itnernational
cooperation are the most needed.
Furthermore, the European Democracy Forum
shall also give the transatlantic and mediterranean dimensions new
opportunities for converging efforts in selecting resolutely
challenging projects for years to come.
Private and public partnerships in democratic
promotion and cohesion is our agenda and challenge for the
beginning of the third millennium confronted with new threats to
the international order.
This is an experience worth joining and
supporting.
Walter Schwimmer
President of the Forum,
Former Secretary General of the Council of
Europe
