On 11 June 2026, the European Policy Centre (EPC) organised an online Policy Lab on the link between participatory and deliberative approaches and wellbeing. The message was clear: participatory processes are a key element of wellbeing governance. However, to be effective, they must be embedded in governance structures, linked to policymaking, adequately resourced, and accompanied by clear accountability mechanisms.

On 22-23 June 2026 the European Commission held a civic tech hackathon to support innovation for a more connected, effective and meaningful ecosystem for citizen participation. The hackathon, a specific deliverable of the European Democracy Shield, also contributed towards building a genuine European civic tech community and to the development of a new Civic Tech Hub.

Launched on January 2024, the overarching objective of the EU-funded project EU-CIEMBLY is to identify and address patterns of exclusion from citizens’ assemblies as democratic innovations. It does so through the adoption and application of intersectionality as an analytical lens for understanding and overcoming structural marginalisation. This Blog Post provides the main highlights of the project so far.

After 6 months of learning and deliberations, members of the Young Citizens Assembly on Pollinators delivered their recommendations on reversing the decline of pollinating insects. They also developed a statement on the place of young people in governance, with a proposal for a permanent Young Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity. But this is not the end of the road!

When discussing democracy, public debates often focus on the political behaviour of young people, particular professional groups, or marginalised actors who stand out because of political extremism. Far less attention is paid to the democratic mechanisms of participation and representation in connection with migration – whether concerning labour migrants, economic migrants, or people displaced by war.

We look back at the CC-DEMOS milestones for 2025 and take a look at the year to come, including support for EU Member States and the Festival 2026.

A year ago, this blog introduced ScaleDem as a Horizon Europe project asking a simple question: why do so many promising democratic innovations stay small?

The Young Citizens Assembly on Pollinators brings together 100 young voices from across the EU to discuss different perspectives, identify the main challenges, and explore possible solutions to the decline of pollinating insects. With two Assembly weekends behind us, we bring you updates about the process.

Co-Creating Our City brings together young people and local decision-makers through Citizen Science. Together, they study issues that matter to young residents, share knowledge and experiences, and develop actionable proposals for change. This collaborative approach empowers young people to take part in decision-making, builds trust between generations, and supports cities in becoming more inclusive and youth-friendly.

Hosted by the JRC and organized by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and FIDE Europe, the event convened representatives from key European institutions - such as the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of Europe, Committee of the Regions - as well as practitioners and policymakers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, East Belgium, Baden-Württemberg, and the OECD. Their shared goal? To exchange ideas, test new tools, and foster citizen participation in Europe.