On 6 November 2025, an international debate the ValEUs Civil Society Debate was held, dedicated to the role of democratic innovations in strengthening democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. The event was organized within the ValEUs project with support from our team. The debate was moderated by Dr. hab. Paulina Pospieszna, and the invited speakers collaborate with the team as part of the project’s ongoing work. The debate, titled “Strengthening Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe: Democratic Innovations as a Response to Contestations of EU Values”, focused on the question: How can democratic innovations strengthen democracy in a region where public trust is declining, civic space is shrinking, and political polarization is rising? The discussion highlighted the importance of citizens’ assemblies, youth engagement, social innovation, and other forms of participatory democracy that help rebuild public trust and support the defense of European values. The event brought together NGO representatives, social movement actors, experts from Poland and abroad, as well as a broad online audience.
Panelists:
- Adela Gąsiorowska – National Freedom Institute, Warsaw
- Eva Mackeviča – Pole Dialogu Foundation, Warsaw
- Leanid Marozau – Expert Group on Youth Rights, European Youth Forum, Brussels
- Bartłomiej Schmidt – “Better City” Association, Kraków
- Magdalena Szczudło – Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy, Warsaw
The debate can be viewed online; the recording is available on the project website and on YouTube here.
Prof. Paulina Pospieszna’s participation in this event enhances the visibility of research on democratic innovations and underscores the importance of collaboration between academia, civil society, and public institutions in addressing the challenges facing democracy in Central and Eastern Europe.
