Σάββατο, 05 Οκτώβριος 2024
Συγγραφείς Διάφοροι συγγραφείς Contribution of the Citizens’ Union for PAREMVASSI, 1995-2024, in the Greek and European Public Space
Contribution of the Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI, 1995-2024, in the Greek and European Public Space
The Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI, a non-profit, non-partisan, independent citizens' association aimed at strengthening civil society in Greece and Europe, was founded in 1995 and is one of the longest-running citizens' organizations with continuous operation in Greece. The first President of PAREMVASSI was Loukas Tsoukalis, and from 1999, Nikos Mouzelis, with Pericles Vassilopoulos serving as Vice-President. The first two Ombudsmen of Greece, Nikiforos Diamantouros and Giorgos Kaminis, were members of PAREMVASSI. The central areas of action of the Union were as follows: Active Citizens – Empowerment of Civil Society, Good Governance, Public Interest, and Rights for All.
1. The Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI introduced and established the concept of “Civil Society” in the public dialogue of the country, viewed from a scientific perspective in the fields of modern Sociology and Political Science. It published 15 issues of the magazine “Civil Society,” organized 35 events and conferences, invited academics from around the world, and for the past 20 years has maintained a weekly newsletter sent to 3,500 recipients. Additionally, PAREMVASSI was a member of the UN’s COCOS organization, participated in the EU’s Civil Society Forum, and collaborated with the Global Civil Society Studies department at the London School of Economics, while also taking part in over ten international conferences on Global Civil Society.
The concept of Civil Society corresponds to the intermediate space between or alongside the State and the private economy (Market), encompassing a wide array of associations, collectives, foundations, volunteer organizations, and clubs characterized by their non-profit and non-partisan nature. All modern, multi-layered societies of Late Modernity include these three sectors: the State/public, the Market, and the third social sector. Although the concept and practice of civil society saw significant growth after 2000, it is rarely mentioned in public discourse today, even though there are over 3,000 non-profit civil society organizations in operation. Even worse, when it is mentioned, only a few marginal cases are highlighted, which do not represent the great contribution of the third sector and civil society to Greek society.
2. The Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI played a decisive role in the establishment and functioning of the Independent Authority of the Ombudsman in 1997. The creation of the Ombudsman was, in fact, one of the primary reasons for the founding of PAREMVASSI. As mentioned earlier, the first two Ombudsmen, Nikiforos Diamantouros and Giorgos Kaminis, were members of PAREMVASSI. The institution of Independent Authorities, which largely stems from European Community Law, along with the strengthening of civil society, was a central point of institutional formation promoted by PAREMVASSI from its inception. For this reason, it strongly supported the independent functioning of the National Broadcasting Council (ESR), the creation of the Independent Authority for the Protection of Personal Data, the Communications Privacy Authority, the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP), and the need for the Independent, non-partisan operation of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) as a crucial organ for the democratic modernization of Greek democracy and society.
3. The Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI is one of the few citizen organizations that has never supported any particular political party in all elections since 1995. Its character was and remains supra-partisan, and its members/friends come from all versions of the constitutional democratic spectrum. Its goal has been and remains political consensus through meaningful public dialogue on the country’s key issues. At the same time, it opposes the political division in Greece, which serves solely to loot the state through the partisan system that dominated Greece, especially after 1990. The Union supports a functional and efficient party democracy with parliamentary characteristics, but also supplemented by necessary balancing counterweights (Independent Authorities, Press Freedom, and primarily a strong Civil Society). At the same time, it is staunchly opposed to the partisan system, which played a significant role in the country’s bankruptcy.
4. The Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI believed and still believes that as a democracy, we must invent new participatory institutions, at both national and European levels, that will complement and rejuvenate the traditional parliamentary system in the individual member states and the European governance structure at the EU level. In this direction, it supported the innovative initiative for the Social Control Councils of ERT (Citizens’ Assembly), the generalization of the Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy in both the corporate and public sectors, the expansion of the logic of rights for all (people with disabilities, LGBTQ+) with the corresponding institutions to secure them. It also supported the development of social start-ups within the framework of the social economy (similar to the promotion of technological start-ups), utilizing the research efforts of Greek universities, research institutes, and the Greek diaspora.
Prospects for 2030, the Role of the Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI, and the Strengthening of Civil Society
During 2009-2010, with the state’s near-bankruptcy, the country entered a period of destruction, from which we have not yet fully emerged, 15 years later. The recovery of the country seems to be a much more difficult task than we thought, and then what governments claimed and continue to claim, even today. The Citizens’ Union PAREMVASSI believes that Civil Society and the Third Sector have a special role to play in the necessary building of a dynamic and modern Greek democracy, society, and productive economy. Therefore, our key goals for the future are:
a. The restoration of the lost honour and prestige of Civil Society in Greek society. The few defamatory and marginal cases (Ark, Other Human, etc.) do not represent the core NGOs, many of which have shaped public dialogue on environmental issues, the climate crisis, citizens’ rights, gender equality, volunteering, and social contribution. PAREMVASSI will reissue the “Civil Society” magazine in digital form, which with its 15 issues during the 2000-2010 period had a decisive influence on the scientific debate in the public space on civil society, in collaboration with other NGOs, organizations, and foundations. It will promote a plan to revitalize civil society in Greek society.
b. The development of political consensus on key issues is of central importance today. PAREMVASSI aims to function as an Impartial Third Party and help foster dialogue between political parties, civil society, and institutions.
c. Safeguarding the independence of Independent Authorities and their Independent functioning as counterweights to the increasingly centralized executive power.
d. A central role towards 2030 must be played by the youth, through participation, in their independent way, and the expression of their expectations and preferences for society and democracy in Greece and Europe. The group of young people “Paremvasi 2030” will operate in this direction.
