Digital Public Consultations: Lessons from the European Union.
Keith Prushankin, Kseniia Soloveva, Hasan Akintug, Florence Felsheim, Carolina Gerli, Nathalie Koubayova, Cyprian Liske, Claudia Negri Ribalta, Jan Karol Farfal – 2025
The European Union launched the ‘Have Your Say!’ online public consultations platform in 2015 to strengthen its democratic legitimacy and increase public engagement. The ‘Have Your Say!’ platform provides an opportunity for European citizens to engage with policies and regulations that impact their daily lives. While the European Union has been a leader in implementing public consultations, there are certain challenges that warrant further improvement. An in-depth analysis of the ‘Have Your Say!’ platform revealed three key focus areas: accessibility, transparency, and outreach. The authors explore each of these dimensions and propose several solutions for improvement. By adopting these recommendations, the European Union can strengthen its democratic legitimacy and promote broader civic participation, ultimately leading to more robust and inclusive decision-making processes.