Context and Objectives
Following the Conference on the Future of Europe, the European Commission continues its commitment to more inclusive and participatory governance by establishing a new citizen panel on energy efficiency. This panel is part of a strategy to strengthen participatory democracy within the European Union, where citizens are directly involved in shaping key policies and initiatives. In February, March, and April 2024, 150 EU citizens, randomly selected from the 27 member states, will meet in Brussels to collaborate with experts. Their goal is to develop practical recommendations on energy efficiency, a major issue in the Commission’s work program for 2024.
The participant selection process is managed by Harris Interactive and Terrain research institutes, partners of the European Commission. This process aims to reflect the demographic diversity of the EU, considering factors such as geography (urban/rural), gender, age, education level, and socio-economic status. One-third of the participants are young people aged 16 to 25, reflecting the importance of youth voices in European debates. The selection figures are based on data from the Eurobarometer and Eurostat, with a quota system ensuring gender balance and adequate representation of different socio-demographic groups.
These panels play a crucial role in shaping EU policies and initiatives, ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard and considered.
MISSION Modalities
As co-coordinator of the panels, Missions Publiques’ role in this project includes methodological design, session facilitation, logistics organization, assistance in forming working groups, moderation, help in synthesizing recommendations, and coordination with the European Commission for the final presentation.
Added Value of the Approach
This initiative allows EU citizens to directly involve themselves in policy-making. By contributing to the development of recommendations, they actively participate in the governance of the Union on the crucial subject of energy efficiency. The adoption of methods such as random selection of participants and iterative group work sessions introduces innovations in consultation and deliberation methodologies within the EU, following from the Citizen Panels of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which we coordinated with our partners. This approach offers a more inclusive and representative method for policy development while strengthening the bond between citizens and EU institutions.