The team “Europe for all” consists of students and lecturers of European Studies at the Technical University of Chemnitz, which conceived an experimental citizens’ project and carried it out in cooperation with the city of Chemnitz. The team had noticed that Europe-wide the dissatisfaction of citizens with the EU was growing and wanted to get to the bottom of this problem with a project.

First, 1,000 addresses were randomly selected from a sample at the residents’ registration office, these citizens were written to and invited to an information event. The first information event took place on November 15, 2017 in the large auditorium building of the TU Chemnitz. Prof. Matthias Niedobitek, lawyer and project manager, explained the concept of the project to the guests.

In a preparatory phase from the beginning of January to the end of April 2018, the participants were brought up to the same level of knowledge about the EU by means of information letters, so that everyone was able to consult with each other on an equal footing. The information letters were formulated as objectively and at a distance as possible in order to influence the participants as little as possible. The contents of the information letters were discussed in monthly discussion groups between January and April. Questions were to be answered and initial controversial issues were to be uncovered.

The highlight of the project was the citizens’ conference, which took place from 4 to 6 May 2018 in the city hall of the city with about 50 Chemnitz residents. In small groups, the participants dealt with specific topics and developed a catalogue of demands, which bundles their theses, proposals and visions for the future of the EU. The “Chemnitz Manifesto” was handed over to invited politicians at the public closing ceremony on 6 May.

The demands of the Chemnitz Manifesto and further information at: www.europa-fuer-alle.de