European Citizens´ Panel initiative (2006-2007)

video clips

Final reports & publications

• Why this initiative?
• Which first issue ?
• Which project?
• Which methodology?
• When?
• Where?
• With whom?
• Publications
• Contacts

Why this initiative?

This initiative grew out of three basic observations:

1. Citizens' participation in shaping the future of Europe is vital to the enlargement and construction of a European democratic identity.
2. European common challenges are transnational but public opinions remain nation-based.
3. Cultural diversity is a source of wealth for Europe but transnational citizens' participation systems are still to be developed.

It is thus urgent to build new participation systems enabling restoration of trust between citizens and decision-makers. This project takes up the challenge.

Which first issue?

The chosen issue, concerns all European citizens. The European Citizens' Panel aims at

" 1) building up the capacities of people in different regions of European countries to 2) have an informed say on the roles of rural areas in European societies ".

Today, agricultural and rural policies represent about half of the European Union's budget. Rural areas cover 90% of the EU territory and host 56% of EU population (source: OECD). They impact the daily life of all, directly or indirectly, and represent major economic, social, environmental and cultural stakes.

Which initiative?

This initiative aims to enable a large deliberative citizens' panel throughout Europe to be presented with balanced and comprehensive information, to meet decision-makers, experts, stakeholders and then draw up and disseminate proposals on the future of rural spaces in Europe. These recommendations are intended for European and regional authorities.

The project particularly aims to :

1. Work within a European perspective rooted in diversity of local realities.
2. Present a citizens' report to decision-makers for use as a complementary decision-making tool.
3. Establish a platform of exchange between citizens and politicians.
4. Raise and sustain public debate.
5. Stimulate participation learning.

Which methodology ? 

The process has been conducted on two levels, regional then European:

1. Creating 10 regional panels composed of randomly selected "lay citizens" serving as a microcosm of the population diversity.
   Each panel first receives balanced information with the input of experts and stakeholders on the issues at stake. The they draw up their report and present it to end-users.
2. Delegates from different regional panels gather in one European panel. They develop a truly European perspective through a European set of recommendations then presented to European institutions and largely disseminated to the general public.

When?

The initiative has been officially launched on May 10th, 2006 at the EU Committee of the Regions

Regional citizens' panels took place from May 2006 to February 2007.

The pan-European citizens' panel took place in Brussels, from March 30th to April 1st ,2007

The results have been presented to the European authorities on April 2nd, 2007, at the EU Committee of the Regions

Where?

Eight regional citizens' panels, of which 2 cross-border, involve 10 regions of Europe: Bavaria (Germany), Cumbria-Durham (UK), Flevoland (The Netherlands), cross-border panel in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (UK), cross-border panel in Hungary and Slovakia, Rhône-Alpes (France), St Gallen (Switzerland) and Wallonia. (Belgium).

Publications

European Citizens' Panel Publications:

• Final report of the European Citizens' Panel initiative: regional and European perspectives, What roles for rural areas in tomorrow's Europe?, complete results 2006-2007 (Engels, Frans, Duits).
• European infopack: Rural Europe: definitions, issues and policies
• Other publications

Regional citizens' panel in Wallonia publications:

• Avis du Panel de citoyens wallon, Dialogue entre citoyens, témoins, experts et politiques
• Nos campagnes, demain en Europe ? Éléments pour un débat citoyen, Walloon Infopack 

With whom?

The Foundation for Future Generations, the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation (France/Switzerland), the Bernheim Foundation (Belgium), the Evens Foundation (France/Belgium/Poland), the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (UK), the Fondation de France, the King Baudouin Foundation and the Carnegie UK Trust are the initiators of this initiative, in partnership with the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation.

This initiative has been devised with the collaboration of different European institutions: International Institute for Environment and Development (United Kingdom), University of Newcastle (United Kingdom), Right 2B Heard (United Kingdom), Gesellschaft für Bürgergutachten (Society for Citizens Reports, Germany), Université de Liège (Belgium), Tr@me (Belgium), CitizenConsult (Spain), Free University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), North South Rural Voice (Ireland and Northern Ireland), Queen's University (Northern Ireland - UK) and Economie & Humanisme (France).

This initiative could only be achieved thanks to a broad financial and methodological partnership established with European and regional public institutions, foundations and other private institutions involved in participatory governance and/or the future of rural spaces on a European scale.

 

Contacts & info

www.citizenspanel.eu

We can provide you with additional information you may need. Do not hesitate to contact us to know more about the initiative, its methodology, its partnership, etc.

Foundation for Future Generations
rue des Brasseurs, 182
B-5000 Namur - Belgium
tel             +32...       " - fax +32 (0)81 22 44 46
info-panel@FoundationFutureGenerations.org