OBSERVATORY REPORT Participatory democracy at the EU level: How to break

In a similar vein, recent proposals from the European Parliament back more substantial citizens’ participation The good news is that EU institutional support in the Union.20 Moreover, the Presidents of the and openness towards citizens’ engagement are Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European consolidating. [...] EU institutions, including first and foremost The EU and its members need to counter the prevailing national governments, accept and fears and overcome the imagination deficit that hamper support the need to reform the Union’s the readiness and ability to change. [...] These joint efforts would not and should are and will be confronting in the years to come, (3) the not undermine the different stages of the current process that might lead to a substantial reform of 16 the Union’s governance system, including a potential reforms eventually persuade the European Council to European Convention, or (4) the path towards the support the launch of a process that could. [...] citizens, civil q A s the strategic geopolitical imperative of society, experts, as well as elected policymakers.48 enlargement grows and the permacrisis advances – Given that progress towards a widening of the EU is both heavily straining the EU’s current constitutional widely recognised to be in the fundamental interest arrangements and means to respond effectively – the of the Union in the new. [...] In addition, European funds for the strategic agenda and, following the elections and the organisation of citizens’ deliberations in the member formation of the Union’s new leadership configuration, states and the enlargement countries should be made the new Commission will have to set its political priorities available and should allow successful applicants from all for the next five years.