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

Unmasking citizenwashing: the dos and don'ts of participation