ECAS highlights inclusive deliberation strategies at PHOENIX Final Conference

Brussels, Belgium – 4–5 June 2025

Giulia Sandri, Research and Development Manager at ECAS, presented the EU-CIEMBLY project at the final conference of the PHOENIX project (“The Rise of Citizen Voices for a Greener Europe”), held in Brussels. This two-day event convened practitioners, civil society organisations, and policymakers to explore innovative approaches to strengthening participatory democracy across the European Union.

During a dynamic World Café session focused on lessons learned and future strategies, Sandri and fellow participants exchanged best practices for recruiting and engaging citizens in assemblies, panels, and juries. Key recommendations included:

Local resonance: Choosing topics that genuinely matter to communities increases engagement and motivates participation.
Grassroots partnerships: Collaborating closely with civil society organisations (CSOs) and community advocates boosts outreach and builds trust with prospective participants.
Direct mobilisation: Activating local actors such as municipal associations, neighborhood groups, and volunteer networks is crucial to reaching a broad and diverse audience.
Co-design in piloting: Involving stakeholders early in the design process minimises selection bias and helps refine approaches before wider implementation.

EU-CIEMBLY remains committed to working with partners across Horizon Europe projects to foster more inclusive, transparent, and participatory democratic processes at all levels of governance.