In view of the new challenges with regard to the future of Europe and of the European Constitution, decision-makers, on the one hand, need to include and listen to the public more than they used to do in the past. European citizens, on the other hand, need to understand better how Europe is working for them.

European debates must be broadened and everyone who has a stake in the future of Europe must be given and should make use of the possibilities to learn from one another and to contribute to the current and upcoming developments.

The European Citizens? Consultations offer an unparalleled opportunity to address these challenges: they are the first-ever pan-European debate including members of the public from all 27 Member States. More than 1,800 citizens who participate in the events can tell a unique story, 27 countries produce their own results that will echo at national level, yet also ? by comparing them to results from other countries ? at European level. The consultations attract the attention of Heads of State, members of European and national parliaments, ambassadors and researchers who attend the events, speak with citizens and examine their results.

Media support is crucial to deliver and disseminate the results of discussions, to enable cross-border comparisons of a large variety of opinions, to scale the outreach of the message and to deliver and even stronger policy impact. It is by these means that we can learn from each other and enrich the debate about citizen participation, in particular, and the future of the European Union, in general.

1. Contact the person responsible for Media and PR support
2. Contact a member of the European consortium, leading and implementing the process.
3. Contact the national partner of your country, responsible for the implementation at national level.