Addressing the Real Problems – How the Mercator European Dialogue Created Spaces for Dialogue during the Pandemic

Three members of the Mercator European Dialogue shared their perspectives on how the network enabled conversations during the pandemic in AufRuhr, the magazine of Stiftung Mercator.

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Event takeaway

Next Generation EU: How creative responses can empower parliaments in the crisis-driven era of the executive

On 19 October, 12 network members of the Mercator European Dialogue (MED) from Italy, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Spain, joined a call initiated by their colleague Damian Boeselager, Member of the European Parliament. The participants engaged in a discussion that was framed by the question: how can parliamentarians make sure that they are not sidelined in the process of designing, disbursing, and evaluating Europe’s answer to the Covid-19 crisis?

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MP Open Call #1 – On European Migration Policy and Covid-19 Measures

On 1 October, the Mercator European Dialogue (MED) hosted its first MP Open Call. This new call series invites members of the network to join regular informal open-agenda conversations with their peers. The participants decide what they want to talk about and how they want to use the one hour on the line together, spontaneously.

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The MED Network

European politics is complicated. The Mercator European Dialogue makes it personal. We put you in touch with fellow parliamentarians to discuss pressing issues and help you realize your own initiatives. This is your chance to join a vibrant network of changemakers in parliaments across Europe and leading international policy experts. If you are a member of a national parliament in Europe and are interested in learning more, contact us.

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What we do

Dialogues
Dialogues take place once a year, hosting between 30 and 60 Members of Parliament from all over the EU. The dialogues provide a space for constructive political conversations and the opportunity to share national perspectives with colleagues from across Europe, on key issues such as economic governance, migration policy and border security.

Workshops
Workshops give small groups of up to 15 participants the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation on specific topics, accompanied by expert input. Workshops take place approximately four times per year in changing locations, such as Athens, Rome, Vienna, Barcelona.

Connecting and supporting our network
Connecting and supporting our network is an ongoing task. Post-election calls are one way to ensure continued exchange within our network. These offer MPs the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, gather insights and discuss implications. The project team serves as a secretariat for individual MPs who are looking to connect to specific groups or persons in the network or simply want to keep in touch.

Fact-finding missions
Fact-finding missions are a powerful way of gaining personal access to in-depth knowledge. For instance, a group of parliamentarians visited a refugee camp in Lesvos to get a first-hand impression of the situation and a chance to talk to refugees, as well as local and European authorities.

Incubators
As Incubators the MED team provides infrastructure, networks and technical support to MPs who would like to develop and upscale their own ideas. We support parliamentarians in promiting their initiatives online and offline. One such initiatives is the Open Letter Initiative, in which a group of five parliamentarians started a campaign to end the practice of shifting blame for political failures to the EU.

Thinking material
Thinking material is provided by policy experts from our network. The bite-sized articles and factsheets not only help inform MPs before and between meetings; they also draw on insights from the MPs in the network to produce valuable new output for larger audiences. All research products are part of an exclusive MED publication series.

Soft diplomacy
The Mercator European Dialogue can help politicians gain access to diplomatic channels which may otherwise be unavailable to them. One example of soft diplomacy facilitated by the MED was a visit of a U.K. Member of Parliament to Spain after the Brexit vote. In Madrid, he met several other Members of Parliament to learn about the perception of Brexit in the Spanish public.

MED Member Testimonials

“Learning more about realities in different countries makes us better politicians.”

“A helpful concept that is needed in Europe today”

“One of the most intellectually stimulating discussions I have attended in a long time”

“Everyone felt they could engage and exchange. ”

“Very useful and important network of people and fantastic organization of events.”

“Thought-provoking and inspirational for our work, particularly on digital era issues”

“The meeting has a hands-on workshop atmosphere and is built for a collaborative, creative process.”

“It is an opportunity to have a conversation with my EU peers, away from daily politics and not too influenced by national party political lines.”

“An enriching experience for my activity as a Member of Parliament.”

“It's a refreshing format, an opportunity to gain a lot in a very short amount of time.”

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