Representatives of International IDEA Member States' representatives to the EU convened to discuss democracy and democracy support

A meeting of Representatives of International IDEA Member States to the European Union took place in Brussels on 7 December 2016. 

The Mission of Switzerland to the European Union hosted the meeting. Urs Bucher, Ambassador of Switzerland to the European Union and Local Vice-Chair of the International IDEA Council of Member States, chaired the meeting on behalf of the Mongolian Chair of the International IDEA Council of Member States.

Representatives of the following member states participated in the meeting:

Switzerland, Peru, Mongolia, Australia, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, Namibia, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Uruguay.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Urs Bucher commented on the role played by Switzerland as outgoing Vice-Chair of the Council of Member States, and re-emphasised the country’s continued commitment to democracy and International IDEA.  He also welcomed Benin as a new Member State of International IDEA.  Following this announcement, Lucia Kodjoh Vigan of the Embassy of Benin to the European Union delivered a short message by stating that Benin has the intention to become an active Member State of International IDEA, and to support democratisation efforts on the African continent.

Richard Youngs, Senior Associate of Carnegie Europe, made a presentation on “Different forms of Democracy and Democracy Support”. In his presentation,  Youngs advocated the need for a new approach to non-western models of democracy, including a focus shift from illiberal policy choices and social values to inclusive institutions, within the lines of respect for human rights. Important areas of democratic variation include individual rights, economic justice, communitarian power sharing, and legal pluralism. The presentation was followed by a discussion among participants, which focused on the following elements:

•Challenge of separation between democracy and economic system and context;

•Need to balance values and interests;

•Time factor and the importance to convert analyses to action;

•Perception that liberal democracy is not delivering;

•Space for participative democracy and preparatory requirements before calling a referendum;

•Role of democratic institutions;

•Importance of multilevel democracy; and

•Changing nature of representation and role of young people.

Amgalan Anand, Counsellor of the Mission of Mongolia to the European Union, presented the 2016 programme and activities of the Mongolian Chair of the Council of International IDEA Member States.

Cristina María del Rosario Ronquillo de Blödorn, Ambassador of Peru to the European Union, presented the 2017 priorities and activities of the Peruvian Chair of the Council of International IDEA Member States. The Ambassador’s statement was derived from the statement made by Jose Beraun Aranibar, Ambassador of Peru to Sweden, at the 25^th Session of Council of International IDEA Member States in Stockholm on 9 December 2016.

Andrew Bradley, Director of the Office of International IDEA to the EU (EUO), presented a report on the 2016 activities and 2017 priorities of the EUO.  Bradley used the opportunity to request the Mongolian representative to convey his thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Khishigdelger Davaadorj and the Staff of the Mission of Mongolia to the European Union for the excellent cooperation during the Mongolian Chairmanship of the International IDEA Council of Member States in 2016. Bradley also congratulated Peru on the assumption of the 2017 Chair of the International IDEA Council of Member States and committed the EUO to close cooperation with the Ambassador and staff of the Embassy of Peru to the EU. Following an exchange of views, Ambassador Urs Bucher closed the meeting and hosted a small reception for participants.