EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Citizen participation in the European Union

Citizen participation in the European Union

Introduction

What lessons can be learned from governmental, commercial and non-profit organisations in terms of citizen participation?

Description

The Seminar's theme is based on the need to impart more tangible shape to the democratic legitimacy of 'Europe'. The EU Member States will need to adopt an appropriate approach to 'Europe', both at a national and a decentralized level, and ensure that their nationals are involved in European policy development and implementation.

Conclusions

Most important lessons from the 10 best practices:

have an independent intermediary organize and implement the process;
when selecting the intermediary pay due heed to character traits such as enthusiasm, sincere involvement, an ability to listen carefully, and empathy with the target group;
make sure that all members of the citizens are offered an opportunity to participate;
focus on the citizens, with bottom-up initiatives;
ensure for an insight into all the relevant interest(s)(groups) (surroundings analysis);
ensure for the timely involvement of the appropriate parties, both at an implementation level and a management level, and the politicians;
ensure that the citizens are able to elaborate on the theme or problem;
ensure that the citizens are confident that participation serves a purpose (influence);
• offer the citizens a great deal of scope and freedom to make a personal contribution;
ensure for regular feedback at all times during the process;
ensure for appropriate filing of records of the agreements that have been reached, and of the progress;
ensure for publicity/render the work visible;
honour agreements/promises;
be prepared to revoke or modify decisions taken earlier;
tailor the means of communications and activities to the target group and the theme/policy issue;
ensure for creative and unorthodox methods;
ensure that the activities are always of the nature of a social event;
with respect to children, take account of their limited span of attention (rapid actions, rapid results);
last but not least - don't work everything out in great detail in advance. Just do it!

Contact info

Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
Judith Compagner, tel. +31 70 42 66222

Publication date

01/10/2003

Links

Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations

Citizen participation in the European Union (PDF, Eng, 1.2 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation