The Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Deliberative Democracy, adopted on 6 September 2023, has become the first international standard in this field. 
 
The Recommendation contributes to the implementation of the Reykjavik Principles for Democracy, in which member States have committed to “actively enable and encourage DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION at national, regional and local levels through free and fair elections. As appropriate, forms of participatory democracy, including deliberative democracy, may be encouraged”.
 
Citizen participation is at the core of a genuine democracy. In recent years, declining trust in democratic institutions has turned attention to new ways to engage citizens. Deliberative democracy does not seek to replace traditional democracy, but instead it aims to enhance and inform existing democratic practises through active involvement of citizens in decision-making in different policy areas. Some member States have already explored and implemented successfully innovative deliberative practices, such as citizens' assemblies, citizen juries, and town hall meetings, both at the local and national levels.
 
For those member states who choose to undertake or promote this kind of citizen participation, Recommendation CM/Rec(2023)6 provides principles in accordance with which any deliberative process should be conducted. These principles cover such matters as the availability of legal framework, clarity of mandate and design, fair representation, and accountability. By adhering to these principles, member states can safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of such initiatives, and ensure that deliberative processes can complement representative democracy.
 
The Recommendation was developed by the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) and is based on the findings of the Report on Deliberative Democracy, also prepared by the CDDG.