From March 17–19, ZIP Institute had the honor of participating in the 9th European Gathering on Participation in Strasbourg, organized by Décider Ensemble. As part of the event, we co-hosted a workshop alongside a Georgian NGO, focusing on the successes and challenges of implementing Citizens’ Assemblies in the Balkan and Georgian contexts and how these lessons could inform similar initiatives elsewhere.
Our workshop opened with an insightful panel discussion featuring representatives from Macedonia and Georgia, who shared their experiences and perspectives on participatory democracy in their respective countries. This was followed by a mock Citizens’ Assembly on the issue of air pollution, where attendees engaged in a dynamic deliberation process, ultimately generating thoughtful and actionable recommendations.
Beyond our own session, we had the opportunity to attend and engage in various workshops exploring key topics in democratic participation. These included thought-provoking discussions on whether voting should be mandatory and how artificial intelligence could reshape civic engagement and decision-making.
The gathering was an invaluable experience, fostering meaningful exchanges between organizations and experts from across Europe, all committed to strengthening participatory democracy.
