The REDIRECT project contributed to a public debate at the University of Oslo exploring how to promote a broader, more informed and less polarised discussion about Norway’s relationship with the European Union.
The event, entitled “How can we avoid all-out war in the EU debate?”, addressed some of the key democratic challenges surrounding Norway’s relationship with Europe, including the limited public debate on EU-related issues and the need to create spaces for meaningful political discussion.
The debate also explored the role that political parties, referendums and deliberative instruments such as citizens’ assemblies can play in encouraging informed public participation and strengthening democratic engagement.
The event opened with a presentation by John Erik Fossum, Professor at ARENA Centre for European Studies, followed by a panel discussion with Maria Varteressian, Johannes Bergh and Anne Elizabeth Stie. The initiative brought REDIRECT’s research on political representation and democratic participation into a wider public discussion on the future of Norway’s relationship with the EU.
The event formed part of activities connected to both REDIRECT and the project Norway and the EU in Change, and provided an important opportunity to connect academic research with public debate on democratic representation, participation and European integration.
Many thanks to everyone who joined the discussion, both in person and online, and contributed with questions and perspectives on how to strengthen democratic debate around Norway and Europe.
Location: Oslo, Norway
Event: Hvordan unngå full krig i EU-debatten?
Host institution: University of Oslo – ARENA Centre for European Studies
Research focus: Democracy, political representation, public debate, citizen participation and European integration
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