European Dialogue
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The Open European Dialogue connects European policymakers across parties and nations, providing a unique space for dialogue and promoting innovative political conversations. It aims to improve political engagement by supporting politicians in better understanding different political challenges and perspectives from across Europe.
We facilitate dialogues, policy workshops, fact-finding field trips, and support policymakers who are keen to engage with different perspectives and opinions. Our network is for politicians with an interest in gaining firsthand insights into a broad range of political topics and eager to learn from the experiences of other policymakers.
Our members meet regularly to participate in multilateral and thematic activities on key political challenges, such as economic governance, digital taxation, migration and border security, measures of well-being, democratic innovation, and more.
By carefully designing and facilitating regular dialogues, workshops, field trips, and informal meetings in different countries, we provide the space for policymakers to connect across borders and party lines to share perspectives and co-develop initiatives. Our different tailored formats give our members opportunities for political exchange beyond institutional structures and the rigidities of official communication and negotiation channels.
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The Multilateral Dialogue was launched on 8 July 2022 with a high-level online meeting which brought together 46 countries from around the globe as well as representatives from six European science stakeholder organisations. Sir Peter Gluckman, President of the International Science Council, delivered a keynote speech, situating the multilateral dialogue in the context of the principles and values by which science, scientists and the science system work and interact with society at large.
A second high-level meeting was held in Brussels on 28 June 2023 and attended by representatives of 42 countries, 7 European stakeholder organisations, the OECD and the International Science Council. Keynote addresses were given by Shuichi Sakamoto (about the May 2023 meeting of G7 Science and Technology Ministers in Japan) and by Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO.
The meeting reviewed the work carried out under the Multilateral Dialogue to date and reflected on the future direction and development of joint activities in the future, in view of a discussion at Ministerial level which took place on 16 February 2024 in Brussels, hosted by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The international ministerial conference on 16 February 2024, was a key milestone in the Multilateral Dialogue on principles and values for international cooperation in research and innovation. It was attended by Ministers or their representatives from 57 countries, including the 27 EU Member States, 15 countries associated or negotiating association to Horizon Europe, 15 international cooperation partner countries, as well as representatives of the OECD, UNESCO, and the International Science Council. In addition, 16 stakeholder organisations representing the European academic and scientific communities were invited to attend the event in an online format.
There was broad consensus on the importance of shared principles and values in international research and innovation cooperation and a good understanding of their different cultural contexts. Importantly, apart from providing political recognition at international level of the work carried under the Multilateral Dialogue to date, the conference endorsed* the Ministerial Statement on principles and values for international cooperation in research and innovation, the Brussels Statement.
Research and innovation news alert: Today, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted an international conference which endorsed the [Ministerial Statement] on the principles and values for international cooperation in research & innovation (R&I).
They are organised on a voluntary basis and built around topics such as synergies with regional and development funds, the European Research Area (ERA), the New European Innovation agenda, or the Horizon Europe Missions depending on the interests of the country.
EU members are involved in a large number of engagement processes where research and innovation plays a part e.g. the European Semester, Cohesion Programming, ERA, the New European Innovation Agenda and many more
Enhanced dialogues allow EU members to cut-across these processes and get country-specific support to define and implement a joint EU research and innovation agenda on the areas they deem necessary and strategic.
Through an open and regular dialogue at all levels, the aim is to improve the research and innovation support of EU countries, help with implementing national reforms and investments, raise visibility on opportunities in European research and innovation and get clarifications from the European Commission when needed.
EU members are at the centre of the enhanced dialogue. They select the discussion topics to be included in the agenda of the first kick-off meeting, the European Commission can advise but the final choice is in the hands of the country. It is also up to the EU member country to engage all relevant ministers and secure commitment at a high level to ensure the necessary national endorsement during the dialogue.
The European Commission is there to support the EU countries during the dialogue. It will provide relevant knowledge and engage the key colleagues within the Commission who can provide relevant information and support the choice of topics.
Depending on the needs of EU members, the enhanced dialogue also is a way to ensure the proper tools are mobilised for the right purpose and act in a complementary way e.g. The Horizon Policy Support Facility (PSF), the Technical Support Instrument, expert groups and Community of Practices (such as the Seal of Excellence), Knowledge Exchange Platform and a Joint Action Plan with the Committee of the Regions etc.
This initiative is done on a voluntary basis but EU countries are strongly recommended to take part and benefit from its tailored approach. The responsible public authorities are encouraged to contact the European Commission (DG RTD) to register their interest and set a date for a political kick-off meeting.
This should be followed by a formal request sent to the Director-General of DG Research and Innovation. In parallel, the EU member country will draft the agenda of the high-level meeting in collaboration with the Commission.
Non-exhaustively, the topics that can be incorporated are: Synergies with other programmes, the European Research Area, the New European Innovation Agenda, the Horizon Europe Missions and Partnerships, overall state of research and innovation progress in the country, support for research and innovation reforms including design and implementation.
The Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) is calling for expressions of interest to join the Youth Dialogue Platform in EU External Action. The platform, announced in the Youth Action Plan of 2022, is a space for regular dialogue with youth organisations that will be set up through the Policy Forum on Development (PFD).
In October 2022, the EU adopted the first-ever Youth Action Plan in EU External Action (YAP) - a policy framework that aims to establish a meaningful and strategic partnership with young people.
The aim of the Youth Dialogue Platform is to provide a space for dialogue with youth-led and youth-focused organisations on EU external action, and to strengthen cooperation with young people across the world as part of implementation of the Youth Action Plan.
Members will be appointed until 2027, unless a new call for interest is issued before then. They shall remain in office until replaced or until the end of their mandate. Their term in office may be renewed, or ended in case of inactivity or breach of the code of conduct and ethics.
The selection procedure will consist of an assessment of the expressions of interest performed against the membership criteria. A list of the selected applicants will be established, after which the members of the platform will be appointed.
The European Commission will strive to achieve balanced representation to ensure diversity and inclusion. It will also aim to ensure, as far as possible, a high level of competence and a balance of thematic and geographical coverage, while taking into account the specific tasks of the platform, the type of knowledge required and the relevance of the applications received.
The Youth Dialogue aims to address all young people, including those with fewer opportunities and those currently not involved and active. In every Member State, the process is organised by national working groups that are in charge of conducting consultations and activities in their country with young people, youth organisations and policy makers.
The Trio Presidency takes the lead role with regard to steering the implementation of the EU Youth Dialogue, in close cooperation with the European Commission and the National Agencies, as well as with the European Youth Forum and other youth civil society representatives, within a coordination group.
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