Daniela Vancic
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Function
European Policy and Advocacy Lead
Email
vancic@democracy-international.org
Telephone
Organisation
Democracy International
Summary
Daniela Vancic is the European Policy and Advocacy Lead at Democracy International, where she works to strengthen participatory and direct democracy across the European Union. She leads Democracy International’s advocacy for more future-proof and accessible participatory mechanisms, ensuring that citizen engagement becomes a permanent and effective part of European governance. Daniela also monitors and analyses EU democracy developments, working to bridge the gap between citizens and EU institutions.
Biography
Daniela Vancic joined Democracy International in 2017. As a Serbian-American, she has over a decade of experience in international democracy and political campaigning work.
She is a recognised expert on the European Citizens’ Initiative and European Citizens’ Panels, and is co-editor of Complementary Democracy: The Art of Deliberative Listening. Her work combines policy analysis, advocacy, and strategic communication to advance a stronger democratic infrastructure for Europe.
Responsibilities
- Leading Democracy International’s advocacy and policy work on participatory and direct democracy in the European Union
- Monitoring and analysing European democracy initiatives, legislation, and institutional developments
- Providing expertise on EU participatory democracy instruments, particularly the European Citizens’ Initiative and European Citizens’ Panels
- Coordinating stakeholder consultations and citizen engagement strategies within EU-funded projects
- Building alliances and maintaining relationships with institutional and civil society partners to advance democratic reform in the EU
- Shaping Democracy International’s positions on European democracy matters and initiatives and contributing to strategic planning in advocacy and project implementation
Quote
Democracy can't stand still in a world that moves so fast. It thrives on ambition, innovation, and the courage to rethink how we participate.