A new recommendation from the Commission calls Member States to promote the participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making. This could improve the quality of decision-making processes and renew trust in democracy.
The recommendation forms part of the ‘Defence of Democracy’ package and encourages Member States to develop a structured approach to participation processes through predictable, accessible and inclusive frameworks. The recommendation introduces specific measures to support and encourage citizen participation in public policy-making, ensuring inclusiveness to the best possible extent. It also aims to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society organisations and human rights defenders, allowing them to effectively participate in democratic policy-making.
Innovative forms of citizen participation, such as online and in-person co-creation and deliberative processes, can create spaces through which policymakers can get in direct contact with citizens’ needs, expectations and ideas. This can contribute to support and renew public governance, for example in devising measures to tackle climate change tailored to specific territories, or in making decisions on infrastructure investments.
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