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Council of Europe Citizens’ Assemblies Workshop 2026 in Budapest: Apply for the Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies Training

Cecilia Twumwaa
Council of Europe Citizens’ Assemblies Workshop 2026 in Budapest: Apply for the Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies Training
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The Council of Europe Youth Department, together with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and in partnership with DemNet Foundation, has opened applications for an international capacity-building workshop on Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies.

Titled “Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies: How to Start?”, the workshop will take place from 19 to 21 October 2026 at the European Youth Centre Budapest, Hungary.

This opportunity is designed for young activists, civil society representatives, local and regional government representatives, youth-centre staff, political education practitioners and other people who are interested in democratic participation and have a concrete interest in establishing citizens’ assemblies or other deliberative processes.

The workshop will provide practical training on how citizens’ assemblies work, how they can be planned and implemented, and how organisations and local or regional authorities can develop the institutional and political support needed to make such processes successful.

Selected participants will have their travel, accommodation and meals covered for the duration of the workshop, in accordance with Council of Europe rules.

The application deadline is 7 September 2026.

Opportunity Overview

The official call confirms that applications submitted after 7 September 2026 cannot be considered.

What Is the Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies Workshop?

Citizens’ assemblies are a form of deliberative democracy in which ordinary citizens are brought together to learn about an issue, consider different perspectives, deliberate collectively and develop recommendations.

They can provide communities with structured ways of involving citizens in important public decisions.

The Council of Europe workshop is designed to move beyond simply explaining the concept of citizens’ assemblies. It is a hands-on capacity-building experience intended to help participants understand what is required to actually design and implement one.

According to the official call, participants should leave the workshop with a strong understanding of:

The workshop will particularly focus on helping participants take these ideas back to their own organisations, municipalities, regions or communities.

Why Is This Workshop Being Organised?

The workshop forms part of the Council of Europe programme “Strengthening Democratic Resilience through Youth Engagement and Deliberative Democracy.”

The programme was launched in September 2025 and is scheduled to continue through May 2027.

Its broader objective is to strengthen awareness and practical capacity for deliberative democracy, with a particular emphasis on youth citizens’ assemblies, across Council of Europe member states.

The initiative builds on several important European democratic participation frameworks, including the Committee of Ministers’ recommendation on deliberative democracy, the Congress’s recommendations concerning deliberative methods in European municipalities and regions, and the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life.

The workshop therefore sits within a wider effort to strengthen democratic participation and create more meaningful opportunities for young people and citizens to contribute to public decision-making.

What Will Participants Learn?

The workshop is structured around practical learning rather than theoretical discussion alone.

Participants will explore the complete process of developing a citizens’ assembly, from the initial concept through to implementation and follow-up.

1. Understanding Citizens’ Assemblies

The first stage will introduce participants to the concept of citizens’ assemblies and the principles that make them effective.

Participants will examine:

Case studies from Ireland, France, Germany and other European contexts will be used to illustrate how deliberative processes have been applied in practice.

2. Planning a Citizens’ Assembly

Participants will learn about the important decisions that must be made before launching an assembly.

This includes:

Participants will also participate in group work where they begin drafting their own citizens’ assembly proposal.

This makes the workshop particularly relevant to people who already have an idea for a deliberative process in their municipality, organisation, region or community.

3. Moving From Planning to Practice

The second seminar day will focus on what happens after the initial planning stage.

Participants will explore the “in-between” phase of a citizens’ assembly, including:

Participants will then work on finalising their proposed citizens’ assemblies and presenting them for feedback.

4. Local and Regional Democracy

A major focus of the workshop is the application of deliberative democracy at the local and regional level.

This is particularly relevant to:

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will contribute expertise on embedding deliberative processes within municipal and regional governance.

This can help participants understand how citizens’ assemblies can move from an interesting democratic concept into a practical mechanism that can operate within existing institutions.

Public Panel Discussion on Deliberative Democracy

In addition to the two-day capacity-building workshop, participants will attend a high-level public panel discussion.

The panel will bring together international and Hungarian experts and will be open to diplomatic, civil society, academic and municipal stakeholders.

The discussion will address two broad areas:

  1. International evidence on citizens’ assemblies
  2. Citizens’ assemblies at the local level, including opportunities and how to get started

For workshop participants, the panel will provide direct expert input that can inform the practical training sessions that follow.

Who Can Apply?

The official call identifies several categories of people who are particularly encouraged to apply.

Young Activists and Civil Society Representatives

Young people actively involved in:

may find the workshop particularly relevant.

Local and Regional Government Representatives

The programme also welcomes representatives of local and regional authorities who have responsibilities relating to:

These participants can potentially use the knowledge gained to introduce or strengthen participatory processes within their municipalities or regions.

Youth Centre and Civil Society Organisation Staff

Staff members working in youth centres and civil society organisations can also apply, particularly where their work involves democratic participation, civic education or participatory methodologies.

Political Education Practitioners

Staff of schools and organisations involved in political education who have an interest in participatory methods are also specifically included in the target group.

People With an Existing Citizens’ Assembly Idea

The opportunity is especially relevant to individuals who already have a concrete idea or project underway involving a citizens’ assembly or another deliberative process.

The idea could relate to:

Having a concrete idea can help participants directly apply the workshop’s practical learning to their own context.

Eligibility Requirements

The official call specifies several important eligibility conditions.

Minimum Age

Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Citizenship

Applicants must be citizens of a Council of Europe member state.

This is an important requirement. The opportunity is therefore not open globally to applicants from every country.

English Language

The workshop will be conducted in English, and participants are expected to have a working level of English.

Applicants should therefore be comfortable participating in discussions, group work, presentations and other interactive activities in English.

Interest and Motivation

Applicants should be motivated to bring citizens’ assemblies or deliberative democracy processes into their own contexts.

The programme is not simply looking for people who want to learn about democracy in general. It is specifically seeking people who can potentially use and apply the knowledge gained from the workshop.

What Are the Benefits of Participating?

The workshop provides several substantial benefits for selected participants.

Practical Expert-Led Training

Participants will receive two full days of practical, expert-led training focused on designing, planning and delivering citizens’ assemblies.

Rather than only studying deliberative democracy conceptually, participants will work through practical steps that can be applied in their own communities and organisations.

International Expert Exposure

Participants will gain access to a high-level public panel featuring international and Hungarian experts working on deliberative democracy.

This can provide insight into different approaches and experiences from across Europe.

Local and Regional Governance Knowledge

Participants will receive dedicated input from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities on how deliberative processes can be integrated into municipal and regional governance.

Development of a Practical Proposal

A particularly valuable component is the structured group work.

Participants will develop a citizens’ assembly proposal that is tailored to their own organisation or community and receive expert feedback on their work.

This means participants can potentially leave Budapest with a much clearer roadmap for implementing a deliberative process.

European Networking

The programme will connect participants with a growing European network of people working on deliberative democracy.

This can provide opportunities for:

Travel, Accommodation and Meals Covered

One of the most significant benefits is that travel, accommodation and meals are fully covered for selected participants, in accordance with Council of Europe rules.

Participants will be hosted at the European Youth Centre Budapest during the programme.

This makes the opportunity particularly attractive to eligible applicants who may otherwise find international training in Europe financially difficult to attend.

Programme Schedule

The official programme includes arrival, two main training days, a public panel discussion and departure.

Sunday, 18 October 2026 — Arrival

Participants are expected to arrive in Budapest on the evening of Sunday, 18 October 2026.

Activities include:

Participants will be hosted at the European Youth Centre Budapest.

Monday, 19 October 2026 — Seminar Day 1

The first seminar day focuses on:

What are citizens’ assemblies and how do you build one?

Key activities include:

Tuesday, 20 October 2026 — Seminar Day 2

The second seminar focuses on:

From planning to practice

Participants will explore:

Tuesday, 20 October 2026 — Public Panel

The same day will also feature the public panel discussion on deliberative democracy.

The panel will examine international evidence and the practical opportunities for establishing citizens’ assemblies at the local level.

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 — Departure

An optional informal morning session will take place before departures beginning from 11:00 AM.

Participants are expected to depart on Wednesday, 21 October.

Application Process

Applicants must complete the official online application form before the deadline.

The application requires applicants to provide information that allows the organisers to understand their background, experience and motivation.

Applicants will be asked for:

  1. Name
  2. Age
  3. Country of residence
  4. Organisational affiliation
  5. A short description of their current work or engagement in democratic participation
  6. A statement explaining what they hope to gain from the workshop
  7. An explanation of how they would apply the knowledge gained in their work or community

The description of current work or engagement has a maximum length of 200 words.

The statement about what the applicant hopes to gain and how they will apply the learning also has a maximum length of 200 words.

How to Write a Strong Application

Because approximately 30 participants are expected to be selected, applicants should make their responses clear, specific and relevant.

A strong application should demonstrate more than a general interest in democracy.

Applicants should consider highlighting:

Relevant Experience

Explain your current involvement in:

A Concrete Idea

If you already have an idea for a citizens’ assembly, explain it clearly.

For example, you could describe:

Practical Application

Explain what you intend to do with the knowledge gained after returning home.

This is important because the programme is intended to create practical capacity for deliberative democracy rather than simply provide theoretical knowledge.

Selection Considerations

The organisers expect approximately 30 participants to be selected.

Geographic diversity is specifically identified as an important selection criterion.

The organisers particularly encourage applications from Central and Eastern Europe.

However, applicants from other Council of Europe member states can also apply, provided they meet the eligibility conditions.

Important Dates

Applicants should keep the following dates in mind:

Applications received after 7 September 2026 will not be considered.

                         Learn more about this opportunity HERE

Where Will the Workshop Take Place?

The event will be held at the:

European Youth Centre Budapest

Budapest, Hungary

The European Youth Centre provides the setting for the Council of Europe’s youth-related educational and capacity-building activities.

Participants will be hosted at the centre throughout the workshop period.

Why This Opportunity Matters for Young People

Young people are important stakeholders in democratic decision-making, but traditional political systems do not always provide sufficient opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their communities.

Deliberative democracy offers another approach by creating structured opportunities for citizens to learn about issues, hear different perspectives, discuss possible solutions and develop recommendations.

For young activists and youth organisations, learning how to establish and facilitate citizens’ assemblies can therefore provide a practical tool for strengthening youth participation.

The workshop can also help participants understand how youth engagement can be connected to local and regional decision-making.

Final Checklist Before Applying

Before submitting an application, prospective candidates should confirm that they:

                                                APPLY HERE

Conclusion

The Council of Europe Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies Workshop 2026 offers an excellent opportunity for eligible youth activists, civil society representatives, local and regional authorities, youth workers and democratic participation practitioners to develop practical skills in citizen engagement.

Rather than focusing exclusively on theory, the workshop will teach participants how to move from the idea of a citizens’ assembly to practical planning and implementation. Participants will explore real European examples, develop their own proposals, receive expert feedback and learn how deliberative processes can be integrated into local and regional governance.

The opportunity is also particularly valuable financially because selected participants will receive full coverage of travel, accommodation and meals, in accordance with Council of Europe rules.

Eligible applicants should prepare their applications carefully and clearly demonstrate their current involvement in democratic participation, their motivation for attending and how they intend to use the knowledge gained in their own organisation or community.

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