International Day of Democracy: Empowering citizens through participation and transparency

Each year on 15 September, the world marks the International Day of Democracy, a United Nations observance that highlights the importance of freedom, participation, human rights, and accountable governance. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, the day provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of democracy worldwide and to encourage citizens to engage in shaping their societies.  

Democracy relies on access to information, open dialogue, and trust between citizens and public institutions. Across the European Union, initiatives promoting transparency and civic participation help strengthen democratic governance. Institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Commission support public access to data and information and encourage citizen involvement in policy discussions, helping people better understand how decisions are made and how they can contribute to them.  

By making public sector information freely available, governments enable citizens, researchers, and journalists to monitor public spending, analyse policies more closely, and participate more effectively in public life. Through the European Data Portal, users can access datasets published by European institutions, agencies, and national authorities. These datasets help improve transparency, foster innovation and support evidence-based decision-making, all of which contribute to stronger democratic systems. 

To mark the International Day of Democracy, explore the wealth of information available on the European Data Portal and discover how open data can help create more transparent and accountable institutions. 

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