Problems and Purpose

As a whole, the European Citizens’ Consultations brought together over 1,800 citizens from 27 EU Member States to deliberate on the future of the European Union. It was designed to address problems including the EU’s democratic deficit, as highlighted by former Prime Minister of Slovenia Alojz Peterle, as well as an over-reliance on “old-fashioned” methods of policy development noted by European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström. [2] 

The European Citizens’ Consultations’ central organizers—the King Baudoin Foundation, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), the European Policy Centre (EPC), and the Network of European Foundations (NEF)—formally reiterated this need, declaring the European Citizens’ Consultations the “first-ever opportunity for members of the public from [...] Member States to debate the future of the European Union across the boundaries of geography and language.” Specifically, their deliberations were aimed at “both European and national institutions and decision-makers as they prepare to take decisions on the next phase of Europe’s development.” [3] 

The 27 National Consultations were specifically focused on the question, “What is needed to achieve the Europe we want?” 

Background History and Context

In 2005, the European Commission launched its "Plan D" (democracy, dialog, debate), largely propelled by EU voters’ recent rejection of the European Constitution. The European Citizens' Consultations were intended to complement these efforts to increase citizen engagement by working toward an EU-wide consensus on its future policies through national and transnational debates. [4]

In October 2006, 200 randomly-selected EU citizens were invited to participate in the Agenda-Setting event of the European Citizens’ Consultations. In smaller group discussions led by facilitators and interpreters, participants shared their views on the role of the EU in their lives and on the EU’s future directions; afterward, participants decided on three policy priorities via electronic vote: 1) the environmental and economic impact of Europe's energy use; 2) The social and economic conditions for Europe's families; and 3) the EU's role in the world and the management of immigration. [5]

These topics later became the focus of 27 national consultations hosted between February and March 2007, which involved 30–200 participants each. National Consultations took place from February 10–11 in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovenia, and Ireland; from February 24–25 in Latvia, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus, Belgium, and Germany; from March 10–11 in Denmark, Greece, Poland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Portugal; and from March 24–25 in Austria, Sweden, Italy, Lithuania, United Kingdom, Malta, Finland, Romania, and Spain. [6] [7]  

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

The European Citizens’ Consultations were organized by a coalition of independent organizations, led by the King Baudoin Foundation alongside the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), the European Policy Centre (EPC), and the Network of European Foundations (NEF). The Consultations were also supported by Compagnia di San Paolo, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. 

Regarding funding and implementation: the Citizens’ Consultations were funded by 21 organizations from participating member states, as well as grants from the European Commission’s Plan D Initiative. Additionally, Institut für Organisationskommunikation (IFOK) and OPTEM, an opinion research agency, assisted with the implementation and organization of the Consultations at the transnational and national levels. [8] [9] 

Participant Recruitment and Selection

Participants in each National Consultation were randomly chosen in order to reflect the demographic diversity of the region from which they come. For example, the Irish consultation noted that a market research company employed by the King Baudouin Foundation selected participants using criteria based on age, educational attainment, gender, and place of residence; the Austrian consultation noted that citizens were selected randomly to reflect national diversity in age, gender, education level, geography, and state of residence. [10] [11] 

Methods and Tools Used

Leading up to the National Conventions, Citizens’ Juries were convened to “assess which kind of information the participants of the national consultations require to lead a fruitful discussion.” [12] 

The 30 to 200-person National Consultations themselves followed the same format, but varied in size and in their corresponding follow-up activities. For example, participants in the Austrian Consultation engaged in activities such as plenary sessions, smaller table group discussions focused on each of the three topics, voting on policy priorities, and expert presentations. [13]

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

At the Agenda-Setting event held in Brussels from October 7–8, 2006, participants broke out into smaller discussions to share their experiences with the EU and discuss the EU’s future trajectory. Their conversations culminated in three topic priorities—Energy & Environment, Family & Social Welfare, and the EU’s Global Role & Immigration—for the 2007 National Consultations. Leading up to the National Consultations, Citizens’ Juries were also convened to determine the types and extent of information that national consultation participants would need to engage in meaningful deliberation. 

The aforementioned 30-200 person national consultations were held in 27 EU Member States across 6 weekends from October 2006 and May 2007 (5–10 national consultations took place at the same time). They were all aimed at defining policy directions related to Europe’s future; additionally, the Consultations happening at the same time could exchange views with other national consultations at predetermined “integration points”, enabling genuine, cross-border exchanges. However, they were also “shaped by a broad consortium of national foundations and non-profit organisations from all over Europe that adapt the events to their respective national contexts.” As such, while the Consultations followed the same format, the Consultations varied in size and in their corresponding follow-up activities. For example, participants in the Austrian Consultation engaged in activities such as plenary sessions, smaller table group discussions focused on each of the three topics, voting on policy priorities, and expert presentations. [14]

The reports from each National Consultation informed the results of a Final Consultation in May 2007, which produced a report—titled European Citizens’ Perspectives on the Future of Europe—that noted both “common ground and [...] areas of divergence between the national outcomes” as well as “a comprehensive follow-up process, which actively communicates the outcomes to policy-makers and provides feedback to citizens.” These results were presented to policymakers and stakeholders at a press conference held at the European Parliament. [15]

Lastly, several follow-up events were held throughout 2007, including a policy debate facilitated by the European Policy Center and local debates in Belgium and Slovenia. [16] [17] [18] 

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

Although the results of the deliberations were turned over to European and national politicians, the impact of the European Citizens' Consultations on policy was limited. The project did, however, prove to be a pioneering model for cross-European dialogue and its success in this regard is demonstrated by the initiation of a second European Citizens' Consultation in 2009. Then-European Commission Vice President, Margot Wallström, even noted that the process had been “valuable” in “confirm[ing] that we are moving in the right direction, but the citizens clearly want us to do more.” [19] [20]

Analysis and Lessons Learned

In a project summary, organizers of the European Citizens' Consultations noted that the event was a useful “model for dialogue across the boundaries of geography and language,” for it could serve as guide for future European deliberative projects that “create dialogue in a multilingual and decentralised setting, empower randomly chosen citizens to set the agenda and lead informed debates, [and] use innovative facilitation methods and modern technology to make every voice heard.” [21]

No further information could be found regarding analysis and lessons learned from the European Citizens' Consultations.

See Also

The European Citizens' Consultation (2006 Agenda-Setting Event)

References

[1] Goldschmidt, Rüdiger and Ortwin Renn. “European citizens' consultations project : final evaluation report.” ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309009597_European_citizens'_consultations_project_final_evaluation_report.

[2] European Policy Centre. “

The Europe we want: citizens’ perspectives on the future of Europe.” European Policy Centre. https://web.archive.org/web/20070706014027/http://www.epc.eu/en/er.asp?TYP=ER&LV=293&see=y&t=2&PG=ER%2FEN%2Fdetail&l=&AI=713.

[3] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

[4] European Commission. “The Commission supports new civil society initiatives to promote Dialogue and Debate on EU issues.” European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_06_1327.

[5] Reed, Jessica. “Power to the people!” openDemocracy. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19018/.

[6] Reed, Jessica. “Power to the people!” openDemocracy. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19018/.

[7] Network for Citizenship and Democracy in Europe. “European Citizens’ Consultations.” Network for Citizenship and Democracy in Europe. http://www.politeia.net/Newsletter/politeia_newsletter_44_february_2007/Agenda/european_citizens_consultations/index.html.

[8] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

[9] European Policy Centre. “European Citizens' Consultations: Expert commentaries.” European Policy Centre. https://www.epc.eu/en/Publications/European-Citizens-Consultations-Expert-commentaries~1ba238..

[10] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

[11] Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. “Report on Citizens' Consultations on the future of Europe in Ireland.”  Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/ireland-in-the-eu/future-of-europe/news/newsarchive/report-on-citizens-consultations-on-the-future-of-europe-in-ireland.php.

[12] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

[13] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Austrian Citizens’ Perspective on the Future of Europe.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/project/835/attach/ECCNatConsAustria_CitizensPerspectiveAT_EN.fin.pdf.

[14] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

[15] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

[16] Europäische Bürgerkonferenzen. “Regionale Bürgerforen in Deutschland.” Europäische Bürgerkonferenzen. https://web.archive.org/web/20070703234402/http://www.europaeische-buergerkonferenzen.de/26.0.html.

[17] King Baudouin Foundation. “Organizing local debates for citizens in Belgium on the future of Europe.” King Baudouin Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064330/http://www.kbs-frb.be/code/page.cfm?id_page=125&id=1178&lang=EN.

[18] European Policy Centre. “European Citizens' Consultations: Expert commentaries.” European Policy Centre. https://www.epc.eu/en/Publications/European-Citizens-Consultations-Expert-commentaries~1ba238.

[19] European Policy Centre. “European Citizens' Consultations: Expert commentaries.” European Policy Centre. https://www.epc.eu/en/Publications/European-Citizens-Consultations-Expert-commentaries~1ba238.

[20] Centre for Liberal Strategies. “European Citizens’ Consultations 2007.” Centre for Liberal Strategies. https://cls-sofia.org/tpost/0b0gko6lu1-european-citizens-consultations-2007.

[21] European Citizens’ Consultations. “Project Summary.” European Citizens’ Consultations. https://www.zsi.at/object/news/208/attach/1About_the_project_ECC_A.pdf.

External Links

Notes

Source: Vrydagh, J., Devillers, S., Talukder, D., Jacquet, V. & Bottin, J. (2020). Les mini-publics en Belgique (2001-2018) : expériences de panels citoyens délibératifs. Courrier hebdomadaire du CRISP, 32(32-33), 5-72. https://doi.org/10.3917/cris.2477.0005