EU launches participatory governance programme

Launching a new resource centre, the European Commission has set out the ambition that eventually all policymakers will involve citizens from the very start of any new policy.

The Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy, announced earlier this month, aims to build partnerships and provide guidance, tools and resources to strengthen citizen engagement. This will include supporting pilots of new approaches, and several are underway, including on biodiversity in cities and future mobility solutions. An online platform and physical space will enable policymakers to collaborate.

A statement from the Commission said: “The rise in citizens’ assemblies, juries, and panels...