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European Citizens Consultations 2009: EU 27 citizens respond to the
economic crisis

European citizens call for tougher supervision of the financial
markets, more
focused spending on research and innovation, and greater investment in
sustainable energy in a unique pan-European debate on the EU’s
economic and social future.

Citizens from 27 EU countries who are taking part in a unique
pan-European debate on the EU’s economic and social future have
called for wide-ranging measures to boost Europe’s economy,
including tougher supervision of the financial markets, more focused
spending on research and innovation, and increased investment in
sustainable energy. These were among the recommendations for action
agreed by citizens at national events in all 27 EU Member States, with
calls for the creation of a politically independent European body to
monitor the financial markets and increase transparency in financial
transactions; for a more efficient allocation of funding for
innovation and research to maximise the benefits; and for increased
spending on sustainable energy to reduce the EU’s dependence on
imported energy. Other issues raised included the fight against
poverty, promoting a better work/life balance, and action on
education.

The 1,600 citizens - selected randomly by professional opinion
research institutes to represent the diversity of the population - who
participated in the national events over three weekends in March are
taking part in the 2009 European Citizens’ Consultations, which are
giving citizens an opportunity to make their voice heard at a time of
unprecedented economic turmoil and in the run-up to the European
elections.

Over the course of three weekends, these randomly-selected citizens -
from a 39-year-old employee from Inga (Finland) to a 21-year-old
unemployed Spaniard to a 58-year-old retired woman from Warsaw –
discussed a wide range of ideas for addressing the economic and social
challenges facing Europe and agreed on ten recommendations for EU
action at each national event. The citizens then handed over and
discussed these recommendations with members of and candidates for the
European Parliament, European Commissioners and national politicians
from their own countries.

Speaking at the national events, leading European policy-makers
praised the ECC project and underlined the importance of dialogue and
debate with citizens in shaping future EU policies.

European Commissioner László Kovács told citizens at the Hungarian
national consultation that: “The EU cannot function without citizens
- and it does not matter what the politicians decide, if the citizens
are not satisfied.”

Socialist MEP Carlos Carnera described the national consultation in
Spain as a “crucial event”, telling participants: “As an MEP, I
feel even more motivated looking at your contributions.”

Speaking at Sweden’s national consultation, European Commission
Vice-President Margot Wallström, said: “My, maybe naive but firm,
conviction is that the ECC will help the European Union to make better
decisions, better anchored with citizens."

Citizens who participated in the national debates were also
enthusiastic about the process. “The ECC is an educational
experience. I really got the feeling that I could have an impact on
things,” said Olja, a 21-year-old from Lahti in Finland.

In addition to the 1,600 citizens who took part in these
consultations, more than 200,000 have visited the online fora launched
in each Member State in December to give the wider public the
opportunity to feed their views and ideas into the debate.

In April, the participants in the national consultations will be asked
to vote online on the recommendations made at each one. The top 15
recommendations which emerge from this process will then be discussed
at a European Citizens’ Summit, which will bring together 150
citizens who took part in the 27 national consultations to debate the
recommendations with top EU policy-makers, on 10-11 May 2009 in
Brussels.

The European Citizens' Consultations are run under the auspices of the
President of the European Parliament by a consortium of more than 40
European partner organisations, led by the Belgian King Baudouin
Foundation (KBF), and are co-funded by the European Commission under
its “Debate Europe” programme and foundations including the KBF,
Compagnia di San Paolo, the Robert Bosch Foundation, ING and funders
at national level.

Contact:MUKTI MAJID (Editor/Publisher)