Citizens set out new European perspective at York
Posted on 24 March 2007
The University is the venue for the UK round of the European Citizens Consultation this weekend hosted by the Power Inquiry. It is part of a pan-European dialogue project which aims to give ordinary people a voice on re-shaping the European Union.
It is a privilege for the University of York to be part of what will be an exciting and momentous occasion
Professor Mark Evans
The two-day UK National Consultation will involve 120 citizens from across the UK selected at random, who will make a series of recommendations to policymakers on environment and energy; social welfare and the role of the family and the EU’s global role, security and immigration.
Consultations are being hosted in each of the 27 EU countries and recommendations from all of them will be taken by the European Commission to the EU summit in June.
The University is working with the Power Inquiry to organise the event which is part of an initiative established in the wake of historic rejection of the European Constitution by France and the Netherlands. It reverses the focus of decision-making and is based on an agenda of issues set by citizens.
Professor Mark Evans, of the University’s Department of Politics, has recruited and trained a team of facilitators who will chair group discussions. York students will act as support workers for the event, while Professor Jonathan Bradshaw, of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, and Dr Neil Carter, of the Department of Politics, are on a panel of experts to give advice on the topic issues.
Professor Evans said: "It is a privilege for the University of York to be part of what will be an exciting and momentous occasion."
Pam Giddy, director of the Power Inquiry said: "As UK citizens we live in a democracy, but we rarely get the opportunity to voice our concerns and hopes about real issues in an environment where we know we will be heard. This event is unique in being the only forum in which we can contribute to the future shape of the European Union and say what part we want to play in it.
"Adding our thoughts and ideas to those of our 26 EU partners and building on them to encourage change represents a real step forward in placing people at the heart of politics."
Yorkshire and Humber MEPs Diana Wallis and Linda McAvan will be among observers at the event.
Notes to editors:
- The POWER Inquiry is pioneering work on participatory democracy. This deliberative forum is a process of open discussion with facilitators in which participants take ownership of decision making, rather than having pre-formed policy options presented to them. Examples of deliberative methods that POWER’s work is building on include: Citizens’ Assemblies in British Columbia (Canada), the America Speaks programme of citizens’ deliberation (USA), the Participatory Budget process in Brazil and Harrow Open Budget in the UK.
- The POWER Inquiry was set up in 2004 to explore how political participation and involvement can be increased and deepened in Britain. POWER is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Trusts and is completely independent of any political party or organisation. POWER took evidence from all major political parties, facilitated community debates across the country, conducted polling, consulted senior academics and experimented with new forms of engaging people with politics and attracted over 1,500 written submissions from the general public. Their report and recommendations for democratic change can be viewed at www.powerinquiry.org.uk
- The University of York has established an international reputation for the quality of its research. Each year, its academics produce a substantial body of the world’s newest and best science and technology. The Government has identified the University of York’s academic excellence as a key driver of local, regional and national economic success. The University has a total of 10,700 students, 3,000 staff and more than 30 academic departments and research centres.