{
    "title": "Brussels named European Capital of Democracy",
    "modified_at": "2026-04-07 18:38:12",
    "published_at": "2026-04-07 18:38:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/brussels-named-european-capital-of-democracy",
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    "body": "<p><strong>The city of Brussels has been officially designated the &ldquo;European Capital of Democracy&rdquo; for the coming year, the city authorities announced on Tuesday.</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Brussels submitted its candidacy under the name &ldquo;Brussels must be DemoCrazy&rdquo;, positioning itself against what it described as a global democratic decline. The city said it aimed to highlight its role &ldquo;as the capital of the free world and as a pioneer of innovative democracy&rdquo;. As the European Capital, Brussels intends to present itself as a &ldquo;democratic champion in a world that is becoming increasingly autocratic&rdquo;.</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                    srcset=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/ 1x, https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3/-/resize/2400x/-/format/auto/ 2x\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"Professor Sanja Bojanic, Bruxelles-Brussel mayor Philippe Close, CEO European Capital of Democracy Carl Helfried and Brussels alderman Frederik Ceulemans pose for the photographer at a press conference following the City of Brussels&amp;#039; selection as the European Capital of Democracy 2027, Tuesday 07 April 2026. &amp;copy; BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS\"\n                id=\"image-fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3\"\n                data-id=\"fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3/-/inline/no/Belgaimage-170081422.jpg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/fa942ddf-278f-4dc7-93d8-92d3887527c3/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Professor Sanja Bojanic, Bruxelles-Brussel mayor Philippe Close, CEO European Capital of Democracy Carl Helfried and Brussels alderman Frederik Ceulemans pose for the photographer at a press conference following the City of Brussels' selection as the European Capital of Democracy 2027, Tuesday 07 April 2026. \u00a9 BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">Professor Sanja Bojanic, Bruxelles-Brussel mayor Philippe Close, CEO European Capital of Democracy Carl Helfried and Brussels alderman Frederik Ceulemans pose for the photographer at a press conference following the City of Brussels&#039; selection as the European Capital of Democracy 2027, Tuesday 07 April 2026. &copy; BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>At the end of January, mayor Philippe Close and alderman for citizen participation Frederik Ceulemans welcomed an expert jury to the city. The visit included a series of projects focused on local democracy and citizen participation.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">At City Hall and across several neighbourhoods, local actors, residents and associations showcased their initiatives. This local engagement helped Brussels secure a place on the shortlist and ultimately win over the European citizens&rsquo; jury.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">More than 5,500 citizens from 46 member states of the Council of Europe, as well as Kosovo, took part in the vote, ultimately selecting Brussels for the title.</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                    srcset=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/ 1x, https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0/-/resize/2400x/-/format/auto/ 2x\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"&amp;copy; BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS\"\n                id=\"image-160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0\"\n                data-id=\"160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0/-/inline/no/Belgaimage-170081301.jpg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/160b1795-4665-4264-a810-d5b4cc3c77e0/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"\u00a9 BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">&copy; BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Over the next year, the city will host a range of projects, debates and events centred on participation, dialogue and democratic innovation.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">According to Close and Ceulemans, cities act as &ldquo;freedom fighters&rdquo; for democratic values. &ldquo;Democracy is not only shaped in parliaments or at the European level, but above all in neighbourhoods, public spaces, and city halls,&rdquo; the college of mayor and aldermen said.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">&ldquo;The European Capital of Democracy emphasises this local dimension by recognising cities that create meaningful opportunities for participation and democratic innovation.&rdquo;</p><p><sup><br>\u200bCity of Brussels &copy; PHOTO IMAGEBROKER</sup></p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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