Under Construction - Citizen Participation in the European Union

Four out of five European citizens want to have a bigger say in EU policymaking. Already now, they can participate in the European Union through elections, citizens' initiatives, consultations, petitions, dialogues, and the Ombudsman. But how well do these participation instruments work? Do citizens know about them? What is their impact on EU policymaking? This study examines seven EU participation instruments in depth. It finds that the EU offers a patchwork of participation instruments that work well in some respects but remain largely unknown and create little impact. To strengthen the voice of European citizens, the EU should move from its participation patchwork to a coherent participation infrastructure. Voting every five years is not enough. A democratically accountable and legitimate EU depends on the ongoing and effective participation of citizens.

Summary

Four out of five European citizens want to have a bigger say in EU policymaking. Already now, they can participate in the European Union through elections, citizens’ initiatives, consultations, petitions, dialogues, and the Ombudsman. But how well do these participation instruments work? Do citizens know about them? What is their impact on EU policymaking? This study examines seven EU participation instruments in depth. It finds that the EU offers a patchwork of participation instruments that work well in some respects but remain largely unknown and create little impact. To strengthen the voice of European citizens, the EU should move from its participation patchwork to a coherent participation infrastructure. Voting every five years is not enough. A democratically accountable and legitimate EU depends on the ongoing and effective participation of citizens.

Product details

• Authors: Paul Butcher, Paul et Butcher, Maarten de Groot, Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Dominik Hierlemann, Stefan Roch, Corina Stratulat
• Publisher: Bertelsmann Stiftung
• Languages: English, German
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.05.2022
• EAN: 9783867939560
• ISBN: 978-3-86793-956-0
• No. of pages: 224
• Dimensions: 216 mm x 10 mm x 296 mm
• Weight: 660 g
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political system; Englisch, erste Hälfte 21. Jahrhundert (2000 bis 2050 n. Chr.), EU, Wahlen und Volksabstimmungen, Internationale Institutionen, EU, Europäische Union, Democracy, Representation, elections, citizens‘ dialogues, participation instruments, European Citizens‘ Initiative ECI, European Ombudsman, public consultations, petitions