This year, the Festival focused on the topic of the green transition and environmental issues. Some key themes on which we reflected over three days included the everyday dimension of democracy, the contributions of citizen engagement to environmental policymaking in Europe and globally, the importance of public spaces to democracy, the role of new technologies in citizen engagement and the ways traditional and Indigenous knowledge can contribute to addressing environmental issues. If this sounds interesting to you and you haven’t been able to follow the Festival, we got you covered: rewatch the sessions here.  

The Festival featured high-level panels, interactive workshops and artistic interventions, brought by makers, musicians and performers, that highlighted the intersection between the arts and contemporary societal issues, showcasing the transdisciplinary approach towards the Festival’s theme. During expert panels, researchers and practitioners reflected on the latest developments in the areas of citizen engagement and deliberative democracy, identified challenges and obstacles and outlined future priorities. The Festival website also featured a digital exhibition of citizen engagement projects and resources. 

The first day of the Festival explored the potential of citizen engagement in advancing the green transition. The key conclusion? Citizen engagement practices can better support the green transition compared to dependence on technocratic approaches of top-down governance informed by narrowly defined expertise. Indeed, we should recognise that citizens are experts of their daily lives, drawing on first-hand knowledge of how environmental issues – and the policies that try to address them – impact their lives. However, establishing a sustainable citizen engagement ecosystem requires a consistent, long-term commitment. In this regard, overcoming barriers to citizen engagement and creating conditions for meaningful participation remain essential. We can take EU initiatives as an example: European Citizens’ Panels, Citizens’ Engagement Platform and the Have Your Say portal remain little known and require more extensive communication to make them recognisable among European citizens. Panellists highlighted the importance of integrating new technologies, ensuring accessibility to all, providing information access and effectively implementing citizen engagement at the local and regional levels. 

During the second day, we discussed the significance of public spaces for the survival of democracy and social cohesion. The high-level panel opened with the reflection on a paradox: The increase in power of populist parties and lower voter turnout in EU elections despite enhanced efforts to mainstream democratic innovations. So, what can EU institutions do? Not only signal, but also prove to citizens the importance and effectiveness of their participation in new democratic practices, make participation mechanisms more accessible, choose topics reflecting everyday discussions and key social tensions that motivate those in society to address contentious issues that may create divisions. Responding to the diminishment of public spaces and freedoms in EU countries and beyond, experts called for the creation of prominent and accessible public spaces – both online and physical - designed to encourage meaningful discussions on complex issues. These spaces should support diverse voices, facilitate opinion-sharing across society and prompt democratic institutions to effectively respond to them. 

The last day of the Festival was dedicated to exploring how Indigenous and traditional knowledge can contribute to addressing environmental issues. In preparation, participants were invited to do some soul searching: Why is it that only one way of knowing is put on a pedestal in its access to policymaking? Honest answers will recognise the intersectionality of knowledge, the need to provide adequate resources for Indigenous communities and the importance of decolonisation, while looking at the potential of co-creation and arts as methods of engagement. Emphasising the necessity of integrating Indigenous communities within a holistic approach to knowledge-for-policy, the conversations highlighted the significance of international cooperation and partnerships, as exemplified by initiatives such as the Atlantic and Arctic basins lighthouse and the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance. How do we proceed? Dismantling knowledge silos and disciplinary boundaries in science and policy making is essential, but co-creation alone is not sufficient to achieve this goal. Researchers must acknowledge their own normativity and embrace action research to transform knowledge systems and reconsider established epistemologies. 

As we reflect on the valuable insights and calls to action stemming from the Festival, it is evident that continued collaboration, innovation and commitment are essential for advancing participatory democracy and effecting lasting positive impacts in our societies. Meanwhile, whether you missed the sessions or would like to revisit some of the conversations of the Festival, you can watch the recordings on the Festival website. And if you’d like to continue the conversation, please get in touch! 

The Citizen Participation and Deliberative Democracy Festival is a flagship event organised by the Commission’s Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy to bring together its Community of Practice. It is a networking and knowledge exchange platform for those who are interested in or work on citizen engagement and deliberative democracy, bringing together researchers, practitioners, politicians and civil servants from across Europe.