Citizen participation processes can strengthen democracy only if they produce real effects on public policy; otherwise, they may further contribute to mistrust of institutions, according to a report published on Thursday 25 June by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The study looks back at more than 260 deliberative exercises organised in Europe since 2015 and analyses their effects on public policy, public authorities and society.
The report is based in particular on a survey conducted in 2025 among 105 public authorities in 20 Member States that had already organised participatory processes. More than 97% of respondents say they would repeat the experience, considering that it improves the quality of public policy, its legitimacy and the extent to which citizens’ needs are taken into account.
However, almost one authority in two (49.5%) considers that it does not have the skills needed to organise these initiatives effectively, while 54.3% would like additional support.
According to the JRC, the effects of citizen participation are not limited to the adoption of recommendations. The consequences most often reported concern improved relations with citizens (52.6%), working with new stakeholders (50%) and stronger capacities to organise other participatory processes (49.5%).
Consequently, the report argues that the commitment of political leaders and transparent follow-up to the recommendations put forward by citizens are the main success factors for these initiatives.
The report: https://aeur.eu/f/mli (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)