In response to the war in Ukraine, the Open European Dialogue launched an Emergency Parliamentary Open Call series in an effort to support open communication for parliamentarians, irrespective of party lines and committee roles, to share concerns and perspectives with parliamentary colleagues across Europe at this critical time.

This publication came out of a collaboration organized together with APROPOS – Advancing Process in Politics. OED Collaborations activate external partnerships to deliver its members with tailored events designed around a variety of themes, audiences, and objectives.

The Open European Dialogue works in democratic innovation and experiments with new ways of meaningfully connecting Europe’s policymakers. We are excited to announce that the project has been recognized by the OECD’s Observatory for Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) and selected as a global best practice as an 'innovative network tackling cross-border innovation!'

The Open European Dialogue works to improve the way European policymakers communicate and collaborate. We help policymakers understand diverse local and political contexts in an increasingly complex environment. Our Declaration outlines how we work, what we believe in, and how we engage policymakers in more explorative and inclusive policymaking as well as active listening conversations.

Insults and denigration form part of the daily political news. It seems increasingly difficult to bridge the rifts between different political camps that some political personnel seem bent on widening. This article investigates whether the perceived shift in rhetoric is reflected in political polarization of the party and electoral landscape in the EU and how polarization may hinder efficient policymaking.

Should European countries continue trade relations with China as it commits human rights violations? This question was at the forefront of discussion as nine parliamentarians from our network joined the call - involved were perspectives from Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Our MP Open Call at the beginning of March was joined by six parliamentarians from Austria, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Slovenia. They came together to discuss the urgency of an effective vaccination strategy in Europe, reflecting on the deep dissatisfaction expressed by many citizens with the European Union and its member state governments.

Introducing the Open European Dialogue, former Mercator European Dialogue

As part of our efforts to recognize the needs of parliamentarians and address these adequately, we receive strategic input from our Parliamentary Steering Committee. The Committee is a group of 10-15 MPs selected on a yearly basis to act as the special Advisory Council for the Open European Dialogue.

In our busiest MP Open Call yet, we were joined by eight parliamentarians from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Sweden. They discussed the ever-present dilemma of how to ensure parliamentary oversight in times of crisis, stressing the importance of maintaining effective checks and balances in their respective governments.