Unmasking citizenwashing: the dos and don’ts of participation
The Civil Society Organisations' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) are co-organising a symposium on analysing the current threat of citizenwashing, a term coined to describe a situation in which public authorities and politicians give the appearance of involving the public in decision-making without actually taking their views into account.
T he event will take place at EESC, room JDE63 and online (on Interactio)
9:30 – 10:00
Registration and refreshments
10:00 – 10:30
Opening of the Symposium
- Welcome speech by EESC civil society group President, Seamus Boland
- Keynote speech by European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly
- Presentation of citizenwashing in environmental decision-making, Ruby Silk, European Environmental Bureau
- Moderation, Frederik Hafen, EEB
10:30 – 11:30
1st Panel: How to spot citizenwashing
- Katrina Leitane, EESC member
- Patrizia Heidegger, Deputy Secretary General, EEB
- Annemie De Clerck, Citizens’ Panel Ambassador, CoFoE in the European Parliament
11:45 – 12:45
2nd Panel: Participatory democracy done right
- Pietro Barbieri, EESC rapporteur for opinion
- Professor Graham Smith, Chair of the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies
- Camille Dobler, Head of Research, Missions Publiques
12:45 – 13:00
Closing remarks
