Deliberative Democracy Days Inspire Engagement Ahead of 2024 Elections

The third edition of Deliberative Democracy Days, a cornerstone event within the EU-funded Citizen Z project coordinated by the Intercultural Dialogue Platform, took place in Brussels on March 4-5, 2024. The event was co-hosted by the Civil Society Outreach Unit and InfoHub at the European Parliament. Aimed at strengthening young people's participation in civic and democratic life, the event drew over 60 unique participants from seven European countries, including Belgium, Italy, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Netherlands, Romania and representing a diverse array of stakeholders including young individuals, civil society organizations, activists, youth workers, educators, and policymakers.

Themed "The European Elections 2024: Unleashing the Momentum for Youth Engagement," the event provided a dynamic forum for discussion, with the absolute majority of participants falling within the 15-25 age category, injecting the conversations with fresh perspectives. Featuring 11 speakers and moderators, the discussions covered various aspects of youth engagement, representation, and deliberative practices, addressing pressing issues such as mental health and social well-being, gender equality and inclusion, democracy and peace, social and environmental justice.

Representative John Albrecht from the Civil Society Outreach Unit of the European Parliament kicked off the event, introducing flagship initiatives and offering valuable insights ahead of the European elections.

Structured into workshops and panels, the event commenced on March 4 with two engaging workshops. The first workshop concentrated on crafting a youth campaign, encouraging young individuals to advocate for the active involvement of their peers in the forthcoming elections. The second workshop was dedicated to educating young participants about various tools and forms for citizen participation. Notably, participants were divided into four groups to brainstorm and propose relevant European Citizens’ Initiatives. The workshops were met with enthusiasm and active involvement from the young attendees, yielding inspiring proposals that facilitators pledged to explore further in the subsequent edition of Deliberative Democracy Days.

On March 5, the event continued with two enlightening panel discussions. The first panel delved into the crucial topics of mental health and social well-being among youth, featuring esteemed speakers from the Netherlands, Croatia, and Belgium. Prof. Imke Baetens, Prof. Marina Nekić, and Dr. Lysanne de Brinke offered insightful perspectives, which captivated the audience, leading to a lively and engaging Q&A session.

The concluding panel shifted the focus towards presenting recommendations stemming from the first round of deliberations in countries involved in the Citizen Z project, namely Belgium, Italy, Croatia, and the Netherlands. Project partners shared remarkable recommendations that emerged from local deliberations, revealing young people’s keen interest in topics encompassing justice, human rights, gender equality, inclusion, and peace.

Despite modifications to the program due to constraints beyond the organizer’s control, the event saw meaningful and authentic discussions, characterized by high interactivity and active engagement from attendees. The smaller scale allowed for more informal discussions and facilitated genuine exchanges among participants.

The panels featuring the participation of the candidates in the 2024 European elections, originally slated to be part of the event program, have been rescheduled to April 9 and April 18. Young attendees expressed enthusiasm upon learning that they would still have the opportunity to engage with their potential future policymakers.

As preparations continue for upcoming events, the overarching lesson drawn from the latest edition of Deliberative Democracy Days is clear: young people are eager to contribute to building their future when given the opportunity to participate and be heard. Listening to and valuing the perspectives of young people is paramount in fostering a more inclusive and dynamic democracy. Deliberative Democracy Days stands as a testament to the power of youth engagement in driving positive change for the future of Europe.