Today, representatives from more than 400 Europe Direct centers are gathering in Brussels to coordinate their local strategies for the coming years and to share best practices for involving local communities and creating democratic spaces.
This event marks the start of the new generation of the Europe Direct network. Europe Direct is a network of centers supported by the European Commission that aims to promote local engagement. The centers are designed to serve as hubs for debate and engagement, enabling citizens to discuss how EU policies shape their daily lives.
The network will have a strong focus on democracy. Europe Direct centers will increasingly act as local hosts for discussions about Europe, providing a space for people to meet and discuss European issues. Through event formats that engage the general public as much as possible and through direct dialogue, the centers will support citizens’ participation in debates and involve them more in democratic life. This work also supports the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the resilience of democratic systems across Europe, in cooperation with social partners, including through the European Democracy Shield initiative and citizens’ debate groups.
For the period 2026-2030, 315 centers have had their mandates renewed and 85 new centers have joined the network. In Hungary, 18 centers will operate during the new period. Many centers are hosted by public administrations, universities, or civil society organizations.
Europe Direct centers across the EU provide citizens with information on an ongoing basis and organize thousands of events each year, such as information sessions and debates, to help people take advantage of the opportunities offered by the EU. Thanks to the centers, citizens can discuss EU topics over coffee in Austria, students can experience the workings of the European Parliament in a simulation in Romania, and centers in Hungary often hold EU lessons in local schools. One of the centers in Luxembourg will operate entirely online.
