European citizens' consultations
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The European Citizens’ Consultations are the first pan-European participatory project to involve citizens from all 27 Member States of the European Union into the debate about the Future of Europe. Between October 2006 and May 2007, more than 1,800 citizens deliberated on the subject in 27 countries speaking 23 official languages. They were selected at random by professional recruitment agencies or universities according to a set of criteria that ensured that they reflected the diversity of the EU’s population. In European- and national-level debates the citizens were choosing and discussing three topics they considered most important to their lives, identified common ground and made recommendations to policy-makers responsible for taking the decisions on Europe’s future.
The European Citizens' Consultations were organised by a group of independent, non-for-profit organisations led by the King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium) in collaboration with European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation (NEF). They were supported by Compagnia di San Paolo, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Robert Bosch Stiftung and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The European network of partners and donors included organisations from all Member States. The project was co-financed by the European Commission and linked to DG Communication’s Plan D.
[edit] Project Phases
The European Citizens’ Consultations were divided into three main phases: the agenda setting event in October 2006, the National Consultations from February until March 2007 and the Synthesis Event in May 2007. The last event kicked off a follow-up process consisting of numerous deliberation and information events at national level.
In October 2006, two hundred randomly selected citizens from all EU-Member States were invited to present their opinions on the influence Europe has had on their lives, and what direction they would like to see Europe take in the future. In a 2-days event, citizens identified the topics that lie at their heart, shared perspectives and experiences with each other. They were assisted by table facilitators and interpreters. Three topics out of the list were selected by electronic vote:
- Energy & Environment: The environmental and economic impact of Europe’s energy use
- Family & Social Welfare: The social and economic conditions for Europe’s families
- EU’s Global Role & Immigration: The EU’s role in the world and the management of immigration
During February and March 2007, these three prioritised topics were debated at 27 national consultations, each attended by between 30 and 200 randomly selected citizens of the respective Member States. 5 to 10 of these events took place simultaneously, following the same schedule and exchanging live impressions and results at key points in time. After 6 weekends of consultations, a map of European public opinion on the three topics emerged.
In a final step, on the 9th and 10th of May 2007, 27 citizen representatives engaged into a European-level synthesis exercise highlighting the common ground and the areas of divergence between the national outcomes. On the basis of the 27 national reports, they worked on their "European Citizens' Perspectives on the Future of Europe". These were handed over at a press conference in the European Parliament to policy-makers, including Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström who discussed with them the implications of their results in a subsequent European Citizens' Roundtable.
Follow-up events took place since May 2007. The policy debate at the European Policy Centre (EPC) officially kicked off the follow-up process at European level. A discussion about citizen participation takes place on the premises of the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) in autumn 2007. In the Member States, follow-up activities include, for instance, 39 local debates in Belgium, 15 local citizen fora in Germany, debating cafés in Slovenia, a school competition in Ireland, press conferences with EU Commissioners in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and many more. At the European policy event three citizen represented a report they created on be behalf of the more than 1800 who took part in the process, three of them then presented the key recommendations made in each of the three areas discussed: the family and social welfare; environment and energy; and immigration and Europe's global role.
Helen Duffett, a British citizen and a full-time mother of four, outlined “the importance of social and economic conditions for Europe’s families”.
The citizens concluded that the EU should play a bigger role in producing a more social Europe, as its strength lies in its people. They agreed that Member States should retain prime responsibility for social and economic policies, but said the EU should set minimum standards to allow people to reconcile family life and careers. The EU should ensure non-discrimination and equal pay for equal work; guarantee accessible, dignified, high-quality and affordable health care; and set high standards for education, compatible degrees and opportunities for life-long learning and exchange programmes.
Danny Casteleyn, a Belgian student of cultural anthropology, outlined the citizens’ recommendations on “the environmental and economic impact of Europe’s energy use”. The citizens stressed that climate change and energy security cannot be dealt with on a national level alone and the EU therefore needs stronger powers to develop a common energy policy, and they want Member States to live up to the commitments they make at the European level.
They also want the EU to be a world leader in clean, safe and sustainable energy; to set standards and binding targets; and to create a common energy grid. Europe should reduce its dependency on energy supply from non-EU-countries, set guidelines and common objectives to protect the environment and punish infringements.
Personal responsibility should be encouraged through education and awareness- raising, and funding for environmental research should be increased; transportation systems should be made more environmentally friendly; and financial incentives introduced to reduce energy consumption.
Silvi Teesalu, an Estonian citizen and leader of the Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, set out the citizens’ recommendations on “the EU in the world and the management of immigration”.
Citizens wanted the EU to have a common foreign policy that can effectively promote peace and the respect for human rights on the global stage. They view diversity as an “added value” for Europe, and a wealth to be preserved and appreciated.
Recognising the link between managing immigration and Europe’s role in the world, the citizens favour a two-pronged European approach: controlling immigration through a joint immigration policy and improved border controls, while increasing development aid and using enhanced trade to raise standards in developing countries, to reduce the incentive for people to emigrate.
The citizens believe that migrants living in Europe must observe EU laws, and the rules and values of their host countries, as well as learning the language. At the same time, Member States and the EU should ensure that migrants enjoy equal rights and opportunities, and have access to education and wo
ECAS an organisation about citizen involvement published a report the three CCC. in which projects under Plan D where highlighted but as well commented on. Helen Duffett (Mother of four children) and Danny Casteleyn (student and employee) who took part in the citizen project where both present, Helen described the project during a speech as "building bridges" the touching speech captivated both sceptics and supporters. Danny Casteleyn asked relevant questions to those who commented as well defended the revelance of such projects.
The Commission has still a long way to go towards its goal of communication with citizens but they might be well on track.
Brussels, 8/9 December 2007: An event organised by Margot Wallström where 6 projects under Plan D where brought together. The aim was to summarise the citizen input. An open letter was published with 27 views that presented a summary of the six projects. Although some participants criticized the process among them Danny Casteleyn more specific the way the summary was edited together. Overall the projects are very new and mistakes are there to learn from.
Website: http://www.european-citizens-consultations.eu, www.epc.eu/en/er.asp?TYP=ER&LV=293&see=y&t=2&PG=ER/EN/detail&l=&AI=713
