The development of civil dialogue has faced numerous developments in the EU over the last decades, which were marked by a growing acknowledgement of the contribution of civil society to the governance process and led to the inclusion of a specific article on participatory democracy in the draft constitutional Treaty, but also the launch of a Plan D on how to better communicate with EU citizens.
However, EAPN believe that more steps are needed to ensure in particular:
- A real participation of excluded groups, based on their empowerment.
- That dialogue goes beyond a box-ticking exercise and makes a real difference.
- A consistent approach across policy fields (including economic areas that have a considerable impact on people experiencing poverty).
- That civil dialogue applies to all EU institutions.
For more information on EAPN’s activity on civil dialogue, please see also our page on participation on the Open Method of Coordination on Social Inclusion.
EAPN’s commitment to a better EU governance also takes place through its participation in the Social Platform and the Civil Society Contact Group.
