Estonian Cooperation Assembly

[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]Estonia has marvellous e-services and is worldwide known by its e-government (currently distrusted though) and e-residency programme, but the state of participation and e-democracy is surprisingly poor. What has changed after the deliberation process People’s Assembly in 2013, what needs to be done in addition to setting up new participation channels and how to increase the demand for more transparent, co-creational and open governance – these are the issues I would like to discuss with other democracy agents.

Teele Pehk the CEO of the Estonian Cooperation Assembly which was one of the facilitators and curators of the People’s Assembly back in 2013. As a direct result of the deliberation process her organisation set up the citizen initiatives platform rahvaalgatus.ee which is meant for addressing the Parliament of Estonia with collective addresses. Its the first participation platform in Estonia which enables big groups to digitally sign the same proposal or draft act – by law is demanded 1000 signatures, then the parliament accepts the collective address. The beta-platform that was as state priority in the Estonian Open Government Partnership action plan, runs in Estonian, Russian and English. Currently we are launching an awareness raising campaign towards 16+ youth, digitally competent elderly and Russian-speakers living in Estonia. More here: http://www.kogu.ee/en/citizen-initiative-portal/

Teele Pehk is also an urbanist at the Estonian Urban Lab, an independent competence centre of urban thought and action, as well as a city maker in Tallinn.

Teele Pehk: I will attend the Innovating Democracy event since the topic is close to my heart: I am always interested in sharing experiences and learning more about different processes and methods how to drive changes. I find it most inspirational when people from different countries, fields and systems work on the same goal with different approaches and tactics – I truly believe in synergy from co-creation.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]