Cities that have applied for the title of European Capital of Democracy as part of the European Capital of Democracy Project, a Europe-wide initiative to strengthen democracy, will be judged each year by a jury of 10 thousand European citizens as the European Capital of Democracy. The first city will be designated in January 2023.
The project will designate a European Capital of Democracy for each year starting in 2022. The European Capital of Democracy will be selected by a jury of experts and a citizen jury of 10,000 European citizens in a five-stage process and will receive this honorary title.
The city awarded the title of European Capital of Democracy will curate and host various events that strengthen democracy together with civil society and its citizens. Visitors from all over Europe will also be invited to observe and participate in these efforts.
3 cities compete for European Capital of Democracy title. 22 cities from 11 countries competed for the call to become the European Capital of Democracy.
The three cities shortlisted by the expert jury were Barcelona from Spain, Brussels from Belgium and Baraga from Portugal. After the citizens' vote, one of these three cities will be awarded the title of the first European Capital of Democracy in January 2023.
The Citizens' Jury will be established in all 46 countries of the Council of Europe by the end of 2022. Turkey is one of the countries that can participate in the Citizens' Jury.
Those who will be included in the Citizens' Jury will be able to decide which city will take the first place. They will also have the opportunity to attend events in the candidate cities and participate in information sessions, trainings and workshops.
Detailed information about the Citizens' Jury can be found here: https://capitalofdemocracy.eu/join-the-citizens-jury/
