As with the previous European Citizens’ Panels, Make.org supported the latest version on Preparedness. Our role focused on analysing inputs from the Commission’s Citizens’ Engagement Platform and ensuring that insights from the wider public can meaningfully inform the offline deliberations.
During the second (online), and third session (Brussels), Make.org’s Citizens’ Insights presented results.
We are glad to continue our cooperation with the European Commission and OpenSourcePolitics in identifying citizens’ priorities - this time on preparedness. Our Citizens’ Insights team actively contributes to the process by researching the online citizens' inputs. We help to connect the digital discussion with the offline panels, where the citizens can submit, discuss and endorse their own opinions and proposals.
On the online platform, citizens put forward ten dimensions and seventeen topics including Education and skills, Social cohesion and local preparedness, for example relating to organising societal roles and responsibilities, Communication and alert systems, or Governance and coordination.
Preparedness is becoming one of the central pillars of the European Union’s long‑term resilience strategy. As part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, the European Commission is involving citizens directly to help shape how Europe anticipates, adapts to, and responds to future crises. To support this effort, the Commission launched an online Citizens’ Engagement Platform implemented and moderated by OpenSourcePolitics.
After a presentation of the Platform’s interim results to the offline participants, delivered by Hendrik Nahr on 24 April, we were pleased to return to the European Commission to display the final results of the online consultation at the closing session of the Citizens’ Panel in Brussels. We are delighted to support this participatory approach by analysing the content collected online. By feeding these insights into the Citizens’ Panels, we are happy to strengthen the links between mini publics (panel) and maxi publics (online platform).
Ultimately, the contributions from both the Citizens’ Panel and the online engagement platform will be taken into account by the European Commission as it advances the EU Preparedness Union Strategy. The panel’s final recommendations, together with insights gathered from the wider public online, will help shape the next steps in strengthening Europe’s collective readiness for future crises. These inputs will inform the Commission’s ongoing work with the relevant Directorates‑General and EU institutions to ensure that preparedness measures are inclusive, effective, and grounded in citizens’ real needs.