We believe: In Civic Participation in Governance
What we believe
We believe more participative democracy helps solve societal problems
ENNA is a strong supporter of the concept of “civic participation in governance,” meaning we believe that citizens and non-profit (civil society) organisations that bring citizens together should be allowed to get involved directly in decision-making that affects them.
We believe in a more open model of governing, where mechanisms are in place to collect opinions from all sources and where those opinions actually shape decision making. We also believe open models of governing must allow for citizens and non-profit (civil society) organisations to be involved in the design and delivery of services for them. This is also known as “no decision about us, without us.”
We believe good civic participation in governance strengthens our ability to ensure that society is more inclusive for all.
Our members fight on a daily basis to ensure that in each European country, citizens and civil society organisations have greater ability to participate in governance. We lobby countries to build into their policy making civic participation by giving opportunities for organisations to have their voices heard directly or through our members.
We believe in a more open model of governing, where mechanisms are in place to collect opinions from all sources and where those opinions actually shape decision making. We also believe open models of governing must allow for citizens and non-profit (civil society) organisations to be involved in the design and delivery of services for them. This is also known as “no decision about us, without us.”
We believe good civic participation in governance strengthens our ability to ensure that society is more inclusive for all.
Our members fight on a daily basis to ensure that in each European country, citizens and civil society organisations have greater ability to participate in governance. We lobby countries to build into their policy making civic participation by giving opportunities for organisations to have their voices heard directly or through our members.
We support the United Nations’ Five Principles of Good Governance
We believe in participative democracy guided by core principles
The role of Civil Society in today’s governance structures should therefore be one of equal participation compared to the other two sectors of society: government and business. The three sectors should work together in an equal partnership in order to create a good and inclusive society.
ENNA believes the best way to organise this partnership is by respecting the five principles of good governance, stemming from the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
In summary, these five principles include:
- 1.Legitimacy and Voice:
All men and women should have a voice in decision-making and no voice should be more equal than another. -
2. Direction:
It should be clear what the direction of governance is, and decisions should be made in the interests of as broad a range of interest as possible and with a long-term perspective.
3.Performance
Governance should imply that when it is implemented, the delivery is responsive to the needs of citizens and delivered efficiently.-
4. Accountability
All sectors of society have a responsibility to be accountable and transparent in their actions. It should be easy for everyone to access and information on the actions undertaken. -
5. Fairness
Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially. -
ENNA aims to follow the abovementioned principles in all its own policies and actions.
ENNA believes the best way to organise this partnership is by respecting the five principles of good governance, stemming from the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
In summary, these five principles include:
- 1.Legitimacy and Voice:
All men and women should have a voice in decision-making and no voice should be more equal than another. -
2. Direction:
It should be clear what the direction of governance is, and decisions should be made in the interests of as broad a range of interest as possible and with a long-term perspective.
3.Performance
Governance should imply that when it is implemented, the delivery is responsive to the needs of citizens and delivered efficiently.-
4. Accountability
All sectors of society have a responsibility to be accountable and transparent in their actions. It should be easy for everyone to access and information on the actions undertaken. -
5. Fairness
Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially.
ENNA aims to follow the abovementioned principles in all its own policies and actions.
Civic participation at EU level begins with Article 11 of the Treaty of Lisbon
At the EU level, interpretation of Article 11 of the Treaty of Lisbon to create more participation in governance is the key
ENNA will respond to the European Commission in order to enhance civic participation in governance. We believe the Lisbon treaty creates the legal impetus for more and better possibilities for such participation through programmes like: AGORA, Civil Dialogue, “Europe for citizens and European Citizens initiative.
We believe that the legal text of the Treaty of Lisbon’s Article 11 requires a critical review and a specific interpretation in favour of civic participation in governance.
Article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty states:
- The institutions shall, by appropriate means, give citizens and representative associations the opportunity to make known and publicly exchange their views in all areas of Union action.
- The institutions shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society.
- The European Commission shall carry out broad consultations with parties concerned in order to ensure the Union‘s actions are coherent and transparent.
- Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may take the initiative of inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.
We believe that the legal text of the Treaty of Lisbon’s Article 11 requires a critical review and a specific interpretation in favour of civic participation in governance.
Article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty states:
- The institutions shall, by appropriate means, give citizens and representative associations the opportunity to make known and publicly exchange their views in all areas of Union action.
- The institutions shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society.
- The European Commission shall carry out broad consultations with parties concerned in order to ensure the Union‘s actions are coherent and transparent.
- Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may take the initiative of inviting the European Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties.
ENNA's take on Article 11 of the Treaty of Lisbon
We believe that further interpretation encouraging civic participation in governance is needed
- Paragraph 1: Participation means here exchange of views in all areas of Union action by appropriate means. What is not clear here is what is meant by “appropriate means”.
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Paragraph 2: The statement on an “open”, “transparent”, and “regular” dialogue between institutions of the EU and CSOs needs to be clarified. ENNA believes that open can mean: unbiased as to the result, content is not pre-determined, there is a right of free access; transparent may mean: transparent of interest, transparent in resources, transparent in procedures and transparent in results; regular may mean: a continuous dialogue.
Equally important is the meaning of “dialogue”; will it meet the requirements of a deliberative process, or is dialogue simply the exchange of information.
On the statement that the EU institutions are to maintain a dialogue with “representative associations” and “civil society” are the definitions of such associations still unclear. A quantitative definition will not be sufficient, seeing that the qualitative aspect of the organisations differs across size. Another concern in this section is the difference between representative associations and civil society; what sets them aside?
Paragraph 3 demands consultation with “parties concearned”. Who are the parties concerned, and who decides it are yet another unclear aspect of the treaty.
Paragraph 4 on the European Citizens Initiative (ECI) is the only section that has received strict regulations.
ENNA believes that CSOs should ensure that the sector has its own definitions and interpretations of the Article distinct from that of the European institutions.
- Paragraph 1: Participation means here exchange of views in all areas of Union action by appropriate means. What is not clear here is what is meant by “appropriate means”.
-
Paragraph 2: The statement on an “open”, “transparent”, and “regular” dialogue between institutions of the EU and CSOs needs to be clarified. ENNA believes that open can mean: unbiased as to the result, content is not pre-determined, there is a right of free access; transparent may mean: transparent of interest, transparent in resources, transparent in procedures and transparent in results; regular may mean: a continuous dialogue.
Equally important is the meaning of “dialogue”; will it meet the requirements of a deliberative process, or is dialogue simply the exchange of information.
On the statement that the EU institutions are to maintain a dialogue with “representative associations” and “civil society” are the definitions of such associations still unclear. A quantitative definition will not be sufficient, seeing that the qualitative aspect of the organisations differs across size. Another concern in this section is the difference between representative associations and civil society; what sets them aside?
Paragraph 3 demands consultation with “parties concearned”. Who are the parties concerned, and who decides it are yet another unclear aspect of the treaty.
Paragraph 4 on the European Citizens Initiative (ECI) is the only section that has received strict regulations.
ENNA believes that CSOs should ensure that the sector has its own definitions and interpretations of the Article distinct from that of the European institutions.
