Policy Recommendations

Within Work Package 10, the TRUEDEM project developed two complementary policy-action plans aimed at strengthening democratic participation and rebuilding trust between citizens, civil society and political institutions. The two deliverables translate the project’s research findings into concrete recommendations for improving participatory governance at local, regional, national and EU levels.

Deliverable D10.1 focuses on measures that support the meaningful inclusion of citizens in policymaking processes. It outlines policy actions that can improve transparency, strengthen participatory mechanisms and create more effective channels for citizen engagement in democratic decision-making.

Deliverable D10.2 complements this perspective by focusing on the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) as key intermediaries between citizens and political institutions. The report proposes measures aimed at strengthening cooperation between governments and civil society, improving consultation mechanisms and supporting the organisational capacities needed for sustained participation in policymaking.

Together, the two deliverables provide a structured set of policy recommendations designed to strengthen participatory democracy, improve the responsiveness of political institutions and contribute to long-term trust-building in European democracies.

Deliverable D10.1 proposes a set of policy actions aimed at strengthening citizen inclusion in policymaking and improving trust in democratic institutions. The recommendations are structured around several thematic areas addressing different aspects of participatory governance and democratic innovation. They identify both general recommendations and concrete solutions that can be implemented in the short, mid or long term at local, regional, national and EU levels.

1. Insight and awareness of the policymaking process

The report recommends improving citizens’ understanding of how policymaking works and how they can participate in it. This includes providing clearer information about policy processes and ensuring that citizens can access understandable explanations of legislative procedures, decision-making mechanisms and participation opportunities. Proposed solutions include developing guidelines and instructions that explain how citizens and stakeholders can participate in democratic processes, as well as improving communication about policy development and implementation.

2. Effectiveness of participatory processes

The report stresses that participatory mechanisms must produce visible and meaningful outcomes. Policy actions should therefore ensure that participatory processes are designed so that citizen input is properly considered in policymaking. This includes establishing procedures that connect participatory processes to decision-making and ensuring that institutions respond to the results of consultations or deliberative forums.

3. Sustainability of participatory mechanisms

Another recommendation is to ensure that participatory processes are sustainable over time. The report emphasises that democratic innovations should not remain occasional initiatives but should be maintained as continuous elements of democratic governance. Sustainability requires stable institutional frameworks, consistent organisation of participatory initiatives and long-term support for citizen engagement.

4. Time dimension of participatory processes

The report highlights the importance of planning participatory initiatives according to appropriate timeframes. Some measures should be implemented immediately, while others require longer-term institutional development. The policy-action plan therefore distinguishes between short-term, mid-term and long-term actions depending on the complexity of reforms and the level of institutional change required.

5. Introduction of democratic innovations

The report recommends introducing or expanding participatory mechanisms that allow citizens to contribute directly to policymaking processes. Examples include citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgeting processes, referendums and online consultation platforms. These instruments should complement representative institutions by creating additional channels through which citizens can express their views and influence policy discussions.

6. Dialogue and communication

Improving communication between public authorities and citizens is another key recommendation. The report emphasises the need to strengthen dialogue through consultations, public discussions and other forms of interaction that allow citizens to exchange views with policymakers. Better communication is seen as essential for reducing the perceived distance between citizens and political institutions.

7. Civic education and training

The report recommends strengthening civic education and training programmes that enable citizens to participate more effectively in democratic processes. Such programmes should help citizens understand political institutions, democratic rights and policymaking procedures, while also supporting their ability to evaluate political information and engage in informed public debate.

8. Accessibility of participation

Participation mechanisms should be accessible to a broad range of citizens. The report therefore recommends designing participation processes in ways that reach different social groups and use multiple communication channels. Proposed solutions include providing flexible participation formats, including asynchronous online consultations, and targeting different groups through appropriate outreach methods.

9. Facilitation of citizen participation

The report emphasises the importance of organisational support for participatory processes. This includes providing clear participation guidelines, ensuring that participatory initiatives are well structured, and organising processes in a way that facilitates the involvement of citizens and civil society organisations.

10. Funding for participatory democracy

Finally, the report highlights the importance of stable financial support for participatory processes. Policy actions include ensuring stable funding for democratic innovations, increasing administrative and organisational capacity for participation initiatives, and maintaining transparent funding arrangements for participatory mechanisms.

Deliverable D10.2 presents a policy-action plan aimed at strengthening the inclusion of civil society organisations (CSOs) in policymaking processes and improving trust between political institutions and organised civil society actors. The recommendations are derived from qualitative interviews with policymakers and representatives of civil society organisations as well as consultative workshops conducted across several European countries. They identify short-, mid-, and long-term measures that can be implemented at local, regional, national and EU levels to strengthen cooperation between public authorities and organised civil society in democratic governance.

1. Insight and awareness of the policymaking process

The report recommends improving transparency and understanding of policymaking processes in relation to civil society participation. Civil society organisations should have clearer insight into how policymaking processes are organised, what stages allow for stakeholder input, and how their contributions are evaluated. Providing accessible information about participation opportunities, decision-making procedures, and consultation mechanisms can strengthen the ability of CSOs to engage effectively in policymaking and represent the interests of the groups they work with.

2. Effectiveness of participatory processes

The report emphasises that the involvement of civil society organisations must have a meaningful impact on policy outcomes. Participatory processes should therefore ensure that contributions from CSOs are considered during policymaking and that institutions clearly communicate how stakeholder input influences final decisions. When civil society participation does not lead to visible outcomes or feedback, trust in participatory mechanisms may decline and organisations may become less willing to invest time and resources in such processes.

3. Sustainability of participatory mechanisms

Another key recommendation concerns the long-term sustainability of cooperation between public authorities and civil society. Participatory processes should not be organised as occasional consultations but should become regular and predictable components of policymaking. Establishing stable consultation mechanisms and long-term cooperation frameworks with civil society organisations can strengthen institutional trust and create lasting channels through which organised stakeholders contribute expertise, policy proposals and feedback.

4. Time dimension of participation

The report stresses that civil society organisations should be involved early enough in policymaking processes to allow meaningful contributions. In many cases, civil society actors are consulted only after policy proposals are already developed, which limits their influence on policy design. Effective participation therefore requires sufficient time for consultation, deliberation and preparation of contributions, as well as clear planning of participatory processes within policy cycles.

5. Introduction of democratic innovations involving civil society

The report recommends expanding democratic innovation tools that involve civil society organisations alongside individual citizens. Mechanisms such as deliberative forums, consultative bodies, participatory budgeting initiatives and structured consultation procedures can strengthen the role of civil society organisations as partners in policymaking. These mechanisms allow CSOs to contribute policy expertise, represent the interests of specific social groups and facilitate broader citizen engagement.

6. Dialogue and communication between institutions and civil society

Strengthening communication between political institutions and civil society organisations is identified as a key element of trust-building. Governments should develop structured channels for dialogue with civil society actors, including consultations, advisory bodies and stakeholder meetings during policy preparation and implementation. Continuous communication helps reduce misunderstandings, improves policy design through stakeholder input and enables civil society organisations to provide feedback on policy impacts.

7. Civic education and capacity-building

The report highlights the importance of strengthening knowledge and capacities for participation both within public administration and civil society. Civil society organisations often play an important role in civic education, public awareness and mobilisation of citizens. At the same time, policymakers and public officials require knowledge and skills for organising participatory processes and cooperating with civil society actors. Capacity-building initiatives can therefore strengthen both sides of participatory governance.

8. Accessibility of participation for civil society actors

Participation opportunities should be accessible to a wide range of civil society organisations, including smaller or less resourced organisations. The report recommends using different communication channels to reach diverse organisations and designing participation mechanisms that allow flexible forms of engagement. Accessible participation formats can help ensure that civil society organisations representing various social groups—including marginalised communities—are able to contribute to policymaking.

9. Facilitation of cooperation with civil society organisations

Effective participation of civil society organisations requires organisational support and clear procedures. The report recommends developing guidelines that clarify how CSOs can participate in policymaking processes and how their contributions will be considered. Providing structured participation formats, facilitation and coordination mechanisms can improve cooperation between public institutions and organised civil society actors.

10. Funding and resources for civil society participation

Finally, the report highlights the importance of financial and organisational support for civil society participation. Stable funding mechanisms are necessary to enable civil society organisations to engage consistently in policymaking processes. This includes supporting the organisational capacity of civil society actors, strengthening administrative capacities for participatory governance, and ensuring transparent funding arrangements for participatory initiatives and democratic innovation mechanisms.