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This Transnational Volume presents the outcomes of an 18-month project aimed at strengthening democratic participation across the EU and the Western Balkans. Coordinated by the European Policy Centre (CEP) and implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Serbia, and Kosovo, the Reinventing Engagement through Affirmative Citizen Consultations (REACH) initiative explored how structured citizen consultations can renew democracy by delivering a series of deliberative exercises and citizen participation experiments. It responds to the erosion of institutional trust, rising populism, and civic disengagement by demonstrating that inclusive deliberation can reconnect citizens and institutions through informed, respectful dialogue.
At its core, REACH tested a simple premise: when citizens are given space, structure, and access to information, they can develop meaningful policy recommendations. The project focused on three interlinked themes – rule of law, environmental sustainability, and EU integration/enlargement – examined through a three-tiered process of local, national, and
transnational consultations. This structure enabled the comparison and integration of citizen perspectives across diverse political and cultural contexts.
Altogether, REACH conducted 16 local consultations, seven national consultations, and a transnational deliberative event held in Belgrade in September 2025. Each stage deepened engagement: local discussions identified challenges; national events translated them into actionable proposals; and the transnational meeting brought participants from all seven countries together to refine and align their recommendations. These deliberations produced 71 citizen-driven policy proposals addressing governance, environmental, and institutional reforms.
Methodologically, REACH is notable for its standardised and comparative design, developed by Corina Stratulat of the European Policy Centre. The shared deliberation protocol ensured consistency while allowing national flexibility. Consultations were inclusive and demographically balanced, with at least 30% youth participation. Through expert facilitation and evidence-based discussion, participants generated realistic, policy-oriented solutions on issues ranging from judicial reform and anti-corruption to renewable energy and civic education. A central insight from REACH is the mutual dependence between the rule of law, environmental policy, and EU integration. Citizens recognised that without rule of law, neither sustainability nor credible EU accession is possible, while EU integration itself drives institutional reform and civic empowerment. The transnational event marked a milestone in participatory democracy, transforming national proposals into a coherent European framework and demonstrating the value of cross-border deliberation in fostering democratic renewal.
Ultimately, REACH shows that democracy thrives beyond elections – through continuous participation, learning, and cocreation. It proves that citizens are capable partners policymaking and that Europe’s democratic renewal depends on listening to its people and turning their collective insight into tangible change
