FRA took part in a conference on ‘Strengthening Inclusive Democratic Participation and Civic Engagement within the EU’ on 12 November in Brussels. Panel discussions explored how participatory and deliberative approaches could help strengthen trust, civic engagement and citizen involvement in public decision-making.
FRA’s participation contributed to the Agency’s engagement on fundamental rights, civic space and democratic resilience, ahead of its joint seminar with the Irish Presidency on protecting civic space on 17 November.
The conference was co-organised by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the General Secretariat of the Council. The event brought together representatives from EU Member States, national and local institutions, civil society and academia to discuss how the EU can strengthen democratic participation and citizens’ trust, particularly among people who feel excluded from political decision-making.