Voices Without Borders: Empowering Citizens to Shape Tomorrow

Participation only works when people can actually take part. That means recognising and addressing the barriers that still prevent many citizens from engaging in democratic processes.

At the “Voices Without Borders: Empowering Citizens to Shape Tomorrow” workshop, held during the European Week of Regions and Cities as a Close to You event, IDEAL and MultiPoD came together to reflect on how participation in Europe can become more open, inclusive, and effective.

The workshop brought together different perspectives, combining insights from social science with the use of responsible AI and other innovative digital tools. The shared aim of both projects is to support participation processes that encourage dialogue and help ensure that every voice can contribute to shaping decisions, regardless of language or background.

What we heard

Throughout the session, participants shared their own experiences, challenges, and ideas about participation and democracy. These exchanges were carefully noted and later brought together into a set of key messages.

Several common themes emerged. Participants highlighted the need for clearer information on how and when to get involved, and for participation formats that feel easier to access and understand. Cultural and linguistic diversity was repeatedly raised as an important factor that participation processes need to better reflect. Trust was also identified as a major influence on whether people choose to engage.

Participants also stressed how important it is to see the impact of their input. When people can understand how their contributions feed into decision-making — at local, national, or European level — participation feels more meaningful and worth the effort.

These reflections offer valuable guidance for designing participation processes that are more transparent, inclusive, and responsive, reinforcing a shared principle: no citizen should be left behind.

🎥 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: