Citizens’ participation, the key element to European democracy
How can the European Union strengthen its legitimacy and the quality of its decision making? By involving its citizens more in its policy development and showing openness to their input.
Sharing this conviction, the King Baudouin Foundation, in cooperation with other European partners, has been working for over 15 years to develop and improve citizen participation. A number of projects aimed at involving citizens in European decision-making has shown that such involvement does bears fruit, but only under certain conditions. In fact, good will and a willingness to listen to what citizens have to say are insufficient to guarantee fruitful public participation. Norms of quality are also required to avoid citizens being given the impression that their contribution has not been taken into account.
On the occasion of the 2019 Europe Day, the King Baudouin Foundation wishes to mark the importance of strengthening the dialogue between the EU and its citizens and to anchor citizen participation in the decision-making process. The recent European Citizens’ Consultations on the future of Europe have succeeded in putting this issue back on the agenda. It is a real challenge for European democracy and is one that could be further strengthened following the European elections of 26 May.
In an exclusive interview (see the link below), Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies at the European Policy Centre, King Baudouin Foundation’s strategic partner organisations, sets out his vision of citizen participation and his perspectives for the future. He also elaborates on the lessons learned from the European Citizens’ Consultations, subject of a new publication.