Pulse of Europe


Pulse of Europe is a pro-European citizen's initiative, founded in Frankfurt, Germany by the end of 2016. It aims at "encouraging citizens of the European Union to speak out publicly in favour of a pan-European identity". As Europe is facing democratic deficits, the imminent Brexit as well as the growing popularity of right-wing populist and nationalist political parties, the initiative aims at counteracting euroscepticism. Pulse of Europe is organised in city groups, and has been active in over 130 cities in 20 European countries. Pulse of Europe is registered as an association headqurtered in Frankfurt, but city groups are largely self-organised.

Basic principles and goals

Pulse of Europe refers to ten basic principles which guide their actions:
  1. Europe must not fail: the initiative perceives the very idea of the European Union to be at stake in case of eurosceptic parties prevailing in the upcoming national elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany in 2017. It appeals to pro-European citizens to promote and support the European idea in public, and vote accordingly.
  2. The threat to peace: the European Union is seen as the main warrantor of peace in Europe. Therefore, the union must not fail.
  3. We are responsible: all parts of the society are regarded as responsible to counteract any attempts at dividing the union.
  4. Get up and vote: adopting the idea of the existence of a "silent majority" of pro-European citizens, the initiative calls for voting for pro-European parties.
  5. Basic rights and Rule of law are inviolable: on the background of recent attempts to restrict by law the freedom of the press in single member states of the Union "individual freedom, justice and the Rule of law must be maintained in all of Europe."
  6. European fundamental freedoms are not negotiable: the European basic freedoms are seen as historical achievements, transforming single national states into one community. A balance of legal rights and duties must be maintained in all countries of Europe.
  7. Reforms are necessary: the European idea must be reformed in order to secure and strengthen the ongoing support of the Union by the people of Europe.
  8. Take mistrust seriously: any concerns regarding the Union are to be taken seriously, and solutions have to be found, in order to restore the trust towards the future of Europe.
  9. Diversity and joint qualities: maintaining the European identity includes the preservation of its regional and national diversity, which is understood as an enrichment.
  10. We all can, and should be a part of it: Pulse of Europe regards itself as an initiative which remains independent from any religious or political conviction, dedicated to the preservation of the European civil society.
The initiative considers itself independent from any political party. With regard to the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Netherlands on 12 March, the presidential elections in France on 23 April, and the parliamentary elections in Germany on 24 September 2017 "until 12 March 2017, the last Sunday before the elections take place in the Netherlands, as many people as possible should gather in public, stand up for Europe and contribute to pro-europeans parties gaining the majority of votes."

Foundation and development

The citizen's initiative was founded by the German lawyers Daniel and Sabine Röder. Using their private network of friends and social media, they held a first public meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, by the end of November 2016. About 200 people joined them. Further demonstrations followed at weekly intervals in January 2017. On 5 February 2017, about 600 participants met in Frankfurt. People in the German towns of Karlsruhe, Freiburg, and Cologne as well as in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, followed suit. During February 2017, the numbers of individual participants, as well as of locations, was rising.
The initiative also gained media attention in the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Korea and France. The first French demonstration took place in Paris on 26 February. In preparation of elections in the Netherlands on 12 March 2017, the demonstrations adopted the campaign and its accompanying slogan "Blijf bij ons" from the pro-European initiative WhyEurope.
Originally demonstrations took place in various European cities on a weekly schedule, every Sunday at 14:00. On 5 March 2017, public meetings were held in 35 European cities. 28 of these were German, but citizens also met in Amsterdam, the French cities of Paris, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Toulouse, and Lyon, and in the English city of Bath. On 5 March 2017, the number of individual attendants ranged between 40 and more than 3,000. On 12 March 2017, more than 20,000 people joined demonstrations in more than 40 European cities. Until May the number of participating cities rose to 118 in 18 European countries.
After the runoff-ballot in France the frequency of meetings was reduced to the first Sunday every month. The rallies are planned to continue at least until the national elections in Germany on 24 September.