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Network for Citizen Participation and Deliberation in Europe
The Network in Brief
June 2026
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The Network for Citizen Participation and Deliberation in Europe brings together insights, opportunities, and projects shared by members every two months.
Feel free to forward this to colleagues. This is our last issue before the summer break. We will be back in September with more updates from the field. If you have something to share in the meantime, reply to this email and we will hold it for the next edition.
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Deliberative & Participatory Processes
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Dutch government adopts 41 proposals from the National Citizens' Climate Assembly ⤴
The Dutch government has adopted 41 of the 82 proposals put forward by the National Citizens' Council on Climate and is converting them into policy. The 175 randomly selected participants were asked how the Netherlands can eat, consume, and travel in ways that are better for the climate. On May 29, Prime Minister Rob Jetten joined the assembly members when the government's response was presented to them directly.
Shared by Marvin Tiemessen, Policy Officer Climate and Society, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, Netherlands
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14 to 16 September 2026 · Copenhagen
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Lead Facilitator Masterclass ⤴
Quality deliberation depends on quality facilitation. The Deliberative Facilitation Training program is built around that premise, offering practitioners training across three levels: from foundational participation design to leading full deliberative processes. The Lead Facilitator Masterclass is the third level. It is a step-change for practitioners ready to take on full responsibility for the integrity of a deliberative process, sharpen judgment alongside peers doing the same work, and help define the craft as it institutionalizes across Europe.
Organized by FIDE Europe and We Do Democracy
Apply here · Deadline: 31 July
Shared by Yves Dejaeghere, FIDE
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19 to 25 October 2026 · Austria
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From Voice to Power: Women's Citizens' Assemblies reimagining democracy ⤴
As part of Democracy Week in Austria, coordinated nationwide from October 19 to 25 by the Bündnis2025 network, this panel discussion will explore the opportunities, needs, and challenges of women-only assemblies, drawing on the experience of the Budapest II and IV district assemblies. Speakers include Luisa Dietrich (Frauen*solidarität Vienna) and Eva Bördös (DemNet).
Shared by Cornelia Perle, PartDem / DemNet
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18 and 19 November 2026 · Vienna
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FIDE Forum 2026: Registrations are open ⤴
What would it take to make deliberation a permanent part of how democracies function? That is the question driving FIDE Forum 2026, two days of workshops, deep dives, and co-creation bringing together practitioners, public officials, NGOs, and funders working to move deliberative democracy from the margins to the mainstream. The program overview is out and registration is open. Two calls also close on July 17 for those who want to shape the agenda: workshop applications (75-minute collaborative sessions) and practitioner-led training sessions on November 20.
Register here: Forum registration ·
Apply for a workshop or training session (deadline: 17 July) ·
Shared by Yves Dejaeghere, FIDE
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Impact of Citizen Engagement: Making a difference to policy, institutions and society ⤴
A new report from the Joint Research Centre mapping the impacts of citizen engagement across policy, institutions, and society. Qualitative interviews and survey data show that once public administrations engage in citizen participation, they report improved policymaking, stronger democratic outcomes, and greater institutional trust, and they go on to run more. The report finds that the full policy impact of citizen engagement is often underestimated, and argues that impact considerations should drive process design from the start, not be added at the end. Aimed primarily at policymakers in EU institutions and Member States.
The JRC is supporting a network of national authorities on citizen participation as part of the European Democracy Shield and will continue advising Member States on evaluating the impact of their citizen participation processes.
Shared by Tessa Dunlop and Angela Guimaraes Pereira, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
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European Civic Technology and Citizen Participation in the Age of AI ⤴
A new publication from Bertelsmann Stiftung analyzing the needs of citizens, civic tech providers, and public administrations across Europe. It identifies a central tension: digital participation tools need to be easy and accessible while also delivering real political impact. Strengthening democratic participation through technology, the paper argues, requires more than the tools themselves. It depends on clear political intent, transparent processes, and a more coordinated European ecosystem.
Shared by Dr. Christian Huesmann, Demokratie und Zusammenhalt, Bertelsmann Stiftung
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Other News & Opportunities
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Claire Thoury elected new President of the CESE ⤴
Claire Thoury was elected President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) on May 20. A sociologist and association leader specializing in civic engagement and democracy, she previously chaired the Governance committee of the Citizens' Convention on the End of Life. She is the first woman to lead the institution.
Shared by Aurélia Gay, Conseil économique, social et environnemental (CESE)
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Budapest Women-Only Assemblies named finalist at the Innovation in Politics Awards 2026 ⤴
The women-only citizens' assemblies organized in the II and IV Budapest districts in coordination with DemNet Hungary have been selected as finalists in the Democracy category of the Innovation in Politics Awards 2026, chosen from over 300 submissions across 35 countries by a Citizens' Jury of more than 1,000 Europeans. The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on October 30 in Cascais, European Capital of Democracy 2026.
Shared by Cornelia Perle, PartDem / DemNet
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Deliberative Democracy and Youth Citizens' Assemblies ⤴
On May 12, the Council of Europe Youth Centre in Budapest and DemNet jointly organized a webinar on deliberative democracy and youth citizens' assemblies, bringing together almost 80 participants from 21 countries. Sessions explored why youth-focused deliberation matters, what citizens' assemblies can offer beyond electoral politics, and what young people need to organize assemblies of their own. Conversations drew on experiences from the EU Young Citizens' Assembly on Pollinators, the Ida-Viru Youth Assembly on Climate Justice, and the women's assembly in Budapest. A follow-up roundtable and in-person seminar in Budapest are planned for September for young people who want to take the next step.
The webinar sessions are available on the Council of Europe Youth Centre's resource webpage.
Shared by Cornelia Perle, PartDem / DemNet
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Founded by FIDE and Bertelsmann Stiftung
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