Citizens' assemblies are a form of deliberative process. A citizens’ assembly brings together a group of people to learn about, discuss, and deliberate on an issue, and provide recommendations to the decision-makers about what they think should happen.

An assembly is typically made up of between 40 and 250 people who are randomly selected to be broadly representative of the wider population in terms of demographics (for example, age, gender, ethnicity, geographical location), and sometimes relevant attitudes (for example, how concerned they are about climate change).

Participants receive balanced evidence from experts, stakeholders, and those with direct experience of the issue and engage in facilitated discussions over multiple weekends. Independent facilitators ensure all voices are heard, and the assembly’s conclusions are compiled. Once the assembly has ended, the recommendations are written up in a report to be presented to decision-makers.

Since 2004, citizens’ assemblies have been taking place around the world at the national and local levels in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland. 

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first citizens’ assembly was held in 2021 in Mostar with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, followed by another in 2024 and one in Banja Luka in the same year.

Around 40 participants, representatives of municipal and cantonal administrations from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, gathered in Jahorina on 10-12 June 2025 for a citizens' assembly simulation. The three-day workshop “Citizens' assemblies as a mechanism of deliberative participation: challenges and perspectives in Bosnia and Herzegovina” served to introduce innovative practices and deliberative processes to the local authorities and provide practical guidelines on how to organise a citizens' assembly with the help of Council of Europe experts and specially trained facilitators.

 Click here to learn more about the workshop.

 More information about the citizens' assembly simulation for local authorities.

The first Citizens’ Assembly of Mostar was organised in July 2021 based on a transparent and inclusive process tailored for Mostar. It brought together a representative group of 48 randomly selected citizens who deliberated during four consecutive weekends and developed 32 recommendations on the cleanliness of the city and maintenance of public spaces in Mostar.

The second Citizens’ Assembly of Mostar was organised in January and February 2024 where a representative group of 40 citizens focused on how to make the city a more attractive and long-term-stay destination for visitors. A total of twenty-nine recommendations were adopted and concern the organisation of the work of the Tourist Board of the City of Mostar, transport in service of tourism and digital presence and communication on tourism.

 To learn more about this initiative and how it works, please see the Mostar Citizens' Assembly designated page.

 More information about the Mostar Citizens' Assembly sessions.

Citizens’ Assembly of Banja Luka was organised in February 2024 where a representative group of 35 citizens debated on how to support youth entrepreneurship in the city. A total of twenty recommendations were adopted which tackle formal and informal education opportunities for entrepreneurship, the setting up of internet platforms and the funding to support start-ups as well as digital communication.

 To learn more about the initiative, please see the Banja Luka Citizens' Assembly designated page (BCS only).

 More information about the Banja Luka Citizens' Assembly sessions.