Active participation of citizens is essential for democracy. In recent years, member States have witnessed a trend towards falling voter turnout in general elections.

At the same time, citizens are still showing an interest in public affairs and use social media and other internet-based platforms to share opinions and to comment on public affairs. Mechanisms of civil participation are being developed and member States have been gaining experience with participatory and deliberative forms of democracy such as citizens’ assemblies, townhall meetings, participatory budgets, referenda to name just a few.

Deliberative democracy does not seek to replace traditional democracy, but instead seeks to enhance and inform existing democratic practises. The Draft Recommendation on Deliberative Democracy provides a reference for member States that wish to introduce deliberative processes into their democratic systems, thus safeguarding the integrity and effectiveness of such initiatives.

It sets out clear guidelines and principles that must be followed to ensure the successful implementation of such initiatives. These principles include the availability of a legal framework, clarity of mandate and design, fair representation, enabled and informed participation, competent facilitation, accountability, oversight and good governance. By adhering to these principles, member States can foster trust, enhance legitimacy, and maximize the positive impact of deliberative democracy on their societies.

In 2022, the CDDG had adopted a Report on deliberative democracy. The Report proposed that, if done right, deliberative democracy initiatives are compatible with good democratic governance and can offer a tool to render policy outcomes more responsive to the needs and concerns of the people and communities, thus encouraging trust in public action. In 2021, the CDDG had also produced a Handbook e-democracy showcasing examples of public deliberations that had a digital component.