When everyday people step in, democracy steps forward
A
conservative dad,
farmer,
conservative dad,
a
climate activist,
single mother,
climate activist,
and a
refugee
pensioner
pensioner
walk into a room to discuss
the energy transition.
housing affordability.
energy transition.
Citizens’ Assemblies give everyday people a seat at the table.
They bring together a cross-section of society. People who don’t usually meet learn, listen, and find common ground on the issues that matter most.
When politics is stuck, everyday people can move it forward.
In Ireland, a Citizens’ Assembly helped unlock a decades-long deadlock on abortion.
After hearing experts, lived-experience testimony and thousands of public submissions, 64% of assembly members recommended unrestricted access. Their report became the basis for parliamentary action and ultimately the 2018 referendum, where 66.4% of voters supported legalisation.
East Belgium created the first permanent Citizens’ Council — a new institution that puts people in charge of the agenda.
Since 2019, the citizens’ council has selected the topics that new assemblies tackle. Their recommendations have already shaped policies from immigrant integration to healthcare, including improved working conditions and a 12% salary increase for care workers.
In a world full of noise, outrage, and polarization, Citizens’ Assemblies offer something rare: calm, informed, collective judgment.
Give citizens a seat at the table.
FIDE – Europe is dedicated to a democracy where people’s informed voices guide public decisions. As an independent, issue-neutral organization, we steward a growing network of democratic innovators driving deliberation and democratic renewal.
What we do
We support public institutions and practitioners in designing, running, and embedding high-quality citizens’ assemblies. We do not run deliberative processes ourselves; instead, we focus on creating the conditions that allow them to succeed.
Advocacy
We connect Europe’s deliberative ecosystem to facilitate collaboration, strengthen standards, and turn local practice into shared knowledge.
Capacity-building
We offer programs that build skills, confidence, and connections.
Our Citizens’ Assembly Schools are a foundational course that explores design and implementation dilemmas through assembly cases and practical exercises. And for those who prefer to learn on their own pace, our online learning space offers resources and session recordings.
Research & Documentation
We document what works—and what doesn’t—to support public institutions with clear, accessible guides.
Connecting diverse expertise allows us to spot gaps, highlight frontrunning approaches, and understand what makes processes work.
News
Receive news on assemblies, research and training opportunities.