Human Rights

What if Europe’s most powerful sustainability ideas did not originate in Brussels, but in libraries, at festivals, and in community gardens? Together with civil society organizations and municipalities from Germany, Poland, Hungary and Romania, our project “Voices in motion” is turning this “what if” into reality. We collect ideas directly where people are present in their everyday life and present them to those who shape Europe’s future.

The implementation will take place in four phases —much like a relay race. With each stage, the baton of ideas is passed on and enriched with new perspectives. To this end, we are organizing four future workshops:

1. Future Lab: Ideas from Everyday Life
   In libraries, museums, community gardens, and at local festivals, we gather citizens’ perspectives on sustainability and Europe’s future. We particularly aim to reach people who feel that their voices are not being heard in European policymaking. We call them the “silent majority”. Their stories, ideas, and visions form the first version of our Baton of Ideas.
2. Future Lab: Thinking Ahead Together
   Citizens discuss the collected ideas with experts and local decision-makers. These discussions generate concrete proposals on sustainable consumption, food systems, and climate-friendly industry, further enriching the Baton of Ideas.
3. Future Lab: European Dialogue
   In an international webinar, the collected ideas are brought together with policymakers, researchers, and civil society representatives. Together, participants discuss how citizens’ perspectives can play a greater role in shaping European sustainability policy.
4. Future Lab: Reaching Brussels
   In the final stage, citizens from all partner countries bring the Baton of Ideas to Brussels. Filled with the visions and proposals developed throughout the Future Labs, it is formally handed over to representatives of the European Union. This way, citizens’ ideas find their way to the very heart of European policymaking.