Brussels — The European Commission has initiated the third round of European Citizens’ Panels, inviting citizens from across the EU to contribute their proposals for a new long-term budget.
The panels, a hallmark of participative democracy in the Union, will focus on the theme “A new European budget fit for our ambitions” and are set to convene in Brussels between March 28-30 and May 16-18, 2025.
The call for participation was accompanied by the launch of an online platform, where citizens can submit and discuss proposals in all 24 official EU languages, thanks to automatic translation.
Despite over 100 submissions since its opening on February 12, engagement has been relatively modest, with few comments and endorsements so far.
The Citizens’ Panels emerged from the Conference on the Future of Europe, a landmark in EU participatory democracy that concluded on Europe Day in 2022.
The conference sought to fulfil a promise made in 2021 — to empower citizens with a direct say in the Union’s future direction.
The final report of the conference was delivered to the Presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission, emphasizing the significance of citizen input in shaping EU policies.
An Innovative Approach to Policy-Making
The European Citizens’ Panels represent a significant evolution in EU governance, providing a structured format for citizens to influence policy directly.
Each panel comprises about 150 randomly selected participants, reflecting the EU’s diversity in terms of geography, gender, age, education, and socioeconomic background. This inclusive approach is designed to ensure a broad spectrum of voices is heard.
Panel participants engage in a three-stage process: generating ideas in the first session, refining these ideas into draft recommendations in the second, and finalizing their recommendations for submission to the European Commission in the third session.
The previous panels focused on “Tackling Hatred in Society” and “Energy Efficiency,” both of which yielded actionable insights for the Commission’s policy-making process.
“The Conference has constituted an unprecedented experience of transnational deliberative democracy. It has also proven its historical relevance and importance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the final report of the Conference stated.
The report underscored the necessity of continuing such inclusive processes in light of ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges.
Focus on the EU Budget
This year’s topic, the EU budget, comes at a critical time as the Union grapples with financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
The aim is to craft a budget that not only addresses immediate needs but also aligns with the EU’s long-term strategic goals, including green and digital transitions, security, and social equity.
The online platform linked to the panel allows citizens to submit their proposals after signing in. While the number of contributions has been modest so far, Commission officials remain optimistic that engagement will increase as the panel dates approach.
Youth Policy Dialogues: Connecting EU with Youth
In parallel with the Citizens’ Panels, the Commission has launched the 11th cycle of the Youth Policy Dialogues, aimed at amplifying the voices of young Europeans in policy-making.
These dialogues, part of the 2019-2027 EU Youth Strategy, will run from January 2025 to June 2026, coinciding with the Polish, Danish, and Cypriot EU Trio Presidencies.
The current cycle focuses on Youth Goal #1: “Connecting EU with Youth,” which seeks to bridge the perceived gap between young Europeans and EU institutions.
The dialogues provide a platform for young people aged 19 to 30 to directly interact with EU Commissioners and express their views on policies that affect them.
High Representative and Vice-President Kaja Kallas hosted the first Youth Policy Dialogue in Brussels last Friday, focusing on the priorities of the EU’s foreign policy.
While the dialogue was not open to journalists, the Commission described it as a significant step towards a more youth-centric approach in EU policy-making.
Challenges in Engaging Citizens
Despite the ambitious framework, both the Citizens’ Panels and Youth Policy Dialogues face challenges in achieving broad and meaningful participation.
The relatively slow traffic on the online platform for budget proposals highlights a persistent issue for the EU: overcoming citizen apathy and ensuring that these participatory mechanisms reach beyond the “usual suspects” who are already engaged in EU affairs.
Analysts suggest that a combination of factors, including limited awareness, the complexity of EU policies, and a perceived lack of influence, may be hindering broader participation.
The Commission has acknowledged these challenges and is reportedly considering additional outreach efforts to boost engagement, particularly among younger demographics and citizens from rural and less affluent regions.
A Broader Democratic Experiment
The continuation of the Citizens’ Panels and the Youth Policy Dialogues reflects a broader experiment in EU democracy. By institutionalizing citizen participation, the EU seeks to address criticisms of a democratic deficit and increase public trust in its institutions.
The panels’ recommendations are not legally binding but carry political weight, as the Commission has committed to providing feedback and, where possible, incorporating them into legislative proposals.
The upcoming sessions in March and May will be closely watched as a barometer of the EU’s ability to translate citizen input into concrete policies. Should these panels prove successful, they could pave the way for more regular and expansive forms of participatory democracy at the European level.
Looking Forward
As the EU continues to navigate complex challenges — from security threats to economic uncertainties — the role of citizens in shaping its future will be increasingly scrutinized.
The success of the current round of panels could significantly influence how the EU approaches participatory governance in the years to come.
For now, all eyes are on Brussels, where the citizens’ voices are set to resonate in the halls of the European Commission, shaping not just the next budget but potentially the future of the Union itself.
