How can citizen’s participate? Purpose and levels of participation: approach, methods, techniques, tools. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Citizen centered exercise needs support from civil society It aims to empower citizens, to give them better access to information and better forums for debate because ‘ information is power ‘. Clearly, this requires cooperation from civil society organizations ( CSOs ). CSOs are well placed to organize polls, petitions, trans-national forums for debate on the web in order to enable citizens to make their voices heard. Margot Wallstrom, Vice President of the EU Commission 3 October, European Citizen Action Service Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Citizen’s participation in decision making Cost effectiveness Access and inclusion Quantity of services Quality of services Increase of resources Transparency Participation of Civil Society Freedom of active participation ResponsibilityResources Channels of Commu- nication Clear and specific regulations Openness in processes Existent channels for participation AutonomyTransparency Adjustment in processes Outcomes: Inputs:

TIME IN DECISION MAKING LEVEL OF CITIZEN’S INFLUENCE IN DECISION MAKING Legend Gov. authorities Citizens Mutual committees Citizen’s committees Mutual cooperation Level of citizen’s influence in decision making - Establishment of channels and bodies for mutual cooperation-

Government and Citizen’s approaches in decision making Government – CitizensCitizens – Government Municipal assembly’s Media Meetings Reports Documents Broshures/leaflets Publications Planning PR Office Public information office Establishing work group commitee E-governance Experts Coalition building Advocacy and lobbying Raising public awareness Web tools Mass media Roundtables Telephone Press release Watchdog Media debate Analysis Assessment/surveys Case study campaign Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

E - Government Key issues in e-government: Infrastructure Accessibility Usability Responsiveness Credibility Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Issues needed to be taken into consideration on e-government Adequate IT infrastructure Amorphous factors: culture, citizen’s awareness, tradition of GO-citizens communication Systematic framework Digital divide Inability of handicapped persons to access and utilize information Social inclusion in participation Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Strategic direction of participatory e-government Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Changes in participation in e-Government maturity Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

How citizen’s can participate Current and future EU challenges in creating effective mechanisms for citizen’s participation in decision making Case study I: Center for European Studies ( summary report 2009 available ) Case study II: CIPAST – Citizen Participation in Science and Technology E- participation ( Database: examples of e-democracy activities ) Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Gaps between theory and practice Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Challenges that IPA beneficiary countries ( Western Balkans and Turkey ) are facing in regard to citizen’s participation in decision making Country specifics and common problems that civil society is facing in the region Discussion: Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Regional challenges in decision making environment Political willingness Transparency and accountability Transition and it’s challenges Capacity building Information technology Institutional mechanisms for citizen’s participation Other communication channels Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Field analysis Exercise ( group work ): What are the main gaps between theory and practice in decision making process? Name at least four areas where the gap between theory and practice is too wide. Identify the main causes which affects the gap to be wide. Identify the overall societal and current political environment which enables the causes to exist. Follow up exercise ( univocally ): Prioritization of the gaps between theory and practice ( finding similarities and country specifics though prioritizing the most common gaps to the least identified gaps ) Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

How to transfer theoretical knowledge into the practice? - How to overcome obstacles? - Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Citizen’s participation in decision making process It is considered as a process through which citizens can address and be a part of implementation of their concerns, needs, values, problem solving, developing and monitoring processes in conjunction with political agenda and central/local government strategies. Group exercise: can you think of a model with combined aims between government and it’s citizen’s? Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Ways of citizens participation in decision making Participatory Governance Participatory Economics Participatory Budgeting Participatory planning Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Categories of Citizens participation Spectrum of citizens participation in decision making Political participation Administrative participation Level of involvement in citizens participation Passive ( one way ) participation Active participation Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Citizens participatory activity Passive Active Political participation Administrative participation Information disclosure/accessibility (demand/provision) Opinion polls Information delivery, Information request/disclosure Public (Administrative) Service Opinion polls Citizen general assembly, Public Hearings Voting, Proposition Opinion exchanges, Public hearings Monitor/control, citizen informant, opinion gathering Request for administration Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Methods of citizens participation ( correlation with political and administrative participation ) Public hearings ( mandated or otherwise ) Town meetings Participation in regular meetings or otherwise Citizens advisory boards Citizen’s coupons ( cards /mail coupons ) Surveys Web sites/ Mutual visits GO and SCO Contact initiated by citizens Discussion: Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

Exercise: Best practices for overcoming obstacles in decision making Exercise - presentation ( group work ): Finding the best solutions to overcome the obstacles in decision making Discussion: explanation of the chosen methods Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.