The focus of the study is deliberately narrow: how digital participation tools can be used to engage citizens in the EU policy cycle.

There has been growing interest in applications of digital tools, especially using artificial intelligence (AI) to promote civic engagement in policymaking. At the same time, EU institutions and civil society are keen to strengthen democratic participation in EU policymaking, partly to make this process more accessible to citizens. Building on a comprehensive landscape analysis, the study clusters 94 distinct tools from around the world and selects 11 representative cases for in-depth empirical assessment. Finally, the report outlines concrete policy options ranging from governance prerequisites to procedural considerations and technical alternatives.

By Bedsted, Bjørn; Bang Bådum , Nicklas; Beiküfner , Aurelia; Droste-Franke , Bert; Fibecker Ladegaard , Sissel; Hofmann, Ulrich; Kirch, Henriette; Schümmer, Christiana; Van Doren, Davy; Wißler, Mayke