Civil servants and CSO representatives from Albania, Armenia, Czechia, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom gathered on October 10th and 11th for a two-day workshop co-organized by the Council of Europe and the German Bertelsmann Foundation to discuss how to organize a citizen assembly from the ground up at the national level.
The workshop, titled "Citizen Assemblies – How to Start," aimed to provide attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for and implement national-level citizen assemblies within their own countries. Through various lenses, citizen assemblies were presented as a vital mechanism for fostering inclusive decision-making.
Experts from France and the UK provided insights from consultancy and academia, emphasizing evidence-based practices that enhance the quality and inclusiveness of deliberative initiatives. Representatives from the State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg and the Deutsche Bundestag shared their practical experiences from Germany, where deliberative democracy has gained significant traction. A notable example is the recent Forum against Fake, a deliberative initiative commissioned by the German parliament to gather citizen recommendations on how to tackle increasing misinformation.
The case studies presented during the training focused on topics such as electoral reform, health reform, and the challenges posed by misinformation in today’s digital landscape. Each topic served as a springboard for discussions on how to effectively engage citizens in the deliberative process. Participants also engaged in a series of interactive group activities focused on implementation strategies at different stages of the deliberative process and explored country-specific interests on how to put it into practice. The importance of accessibility and inclusiveness throughout the entire process, as well as the availability of the necessary human, financial, and time resources for successful implementation, was highlighted. Additionally, critical questions regarding the selection of participants in citizen assemblies were raised.
Overall, the workshop served as a platform for participants from public institutions and civil society to share innovative ideas and practical experiences, benefiting both countries with concrete plans for citizen assemblies and those where the idea has yet to be introduced. The strategies discussed and developed by participants, with the support of the experts, are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of civic participation in the different Member States concerned.
