The Norwegian town of Kristiansand, near Oslo, hosts a "European Conference" every year around Europe Day in May. The event aims to emphasise the importance of continuously defending democracy and human rights, by showcasing how these rights impact citizens' daily lives on a local, regional and at the European level.
The European Conference was first held in May 2020. The previous year Kristiansand had experienced incidents, including the burning of the Quran in a public square and the raising of a Nazi flag over the Human Rights Centre Archive - formerly the Gestapo headquarters during the Second World War. These events sparked discussions with the Council of Europe, particularly regarding the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of democratic values.
The Council of Europe stressed that support for democracy should stem from the grassroots level. As a result, Kristiansand and the Council of Europe agreed to collaborate on an annual event around Europe Day.
"Unrest and uncertainty in the world mean that we must even more strongly defend values such as democracy and human rights. I therefore very much appreciate that we can once again invite some of Europe's most prominent voices to Kristiansand this year. Their messages and perspectives will help highlight how we as individuals can understand the changes we face. Knowledge and dialogue will better equip us to continue building both local democracy and trust among us," said Mathias Bernander, Mayor of Kristiansand.
This year, the sixth edition of the conference will focus on The Future of European Democracy: Time for Dialogue. Time for Action. The disucssions will explore how to secure and strengthen democracy amidst polarisation, war, and declining public trust. What steps must Europe take to ensure democracy thrives locally, nationally, and globally in an interconnected world?
You can register for the conference here.
