Research on deliberative and participatory practices in the EU

EU institutions are committed to guaranteeing a productive dialogue between citizens and public officials, enabling citizen participation and engagement in policymaking. EU-funded research on deliberative and participatory practices can provide insights for policymakers seeking more and better engagement with citizens. This report pursues two main objectives: to map research on deliberative and participatory practices in the EU, and identify gaps requiring further research, and to make recommendations to policymakers at all levels (EU, national, regional, and local) about possible ways forward. Specifically, the report suggests how to engage better with citizens and how to coordinate, consolidate and expand the implementation of deliberative and participatory practices, considering their multi-level dimensions in a diverse EU. Furthermore, in its conclusion, the report proposes general principles for establishing a European Charter for Citizen Participation (not included in this executive summary), which was a request emanating from the Conference on the Future of Europe.