For the first time ever, the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy is heading to Eastern Europe! From 15 to 18 May 2024, Democracy International will organize the world's largest conference on direct democracy in Bucharest, Romania.

2024 will be a crucial year for democracy in Romania, with the European Union parliamentary elections just two weeks after the Forum and local and national elections later in the year.

With this in mind, the 2024 Global Forum will centre its discussions on a critical issue: trust.

Trust in institutions, media, and citizens is of essential importance to our democracies. Alarmingly, less than one in four Romanians trust their Government, and just 12% trust the Parliament. Without trust, how can we expect to make decisions with and for each other? Simultaneously, trust in people's sovereignty and a peaceful Europe is facing an unprecedented challenge due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, impacting not just Romania, but also neighboring Moldova and the entire Black Sea region.

Now is the time to reaffirm the fundamental value of democracy and reimagine a more inclusive democracy.