Council of Europe Citizens’ Assemblies Workshop 2026 in Budapest

Overview

The Council of Europe Youth Department, together with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and in partnership with DemNet Foundation, has opened applications for an international capacity-building workshop titled “Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies: How to Start?” The programme takes place from 19 to 21 October 2026 at the European Youth Centre Budapest in Hungary, aiming to equip participants with practical skills to plan, organise, and implement deliberative processes in their communities.

Benefits

• Travel, accommodation, and meals fully covered for selected participants in accordance with Council of Europe rules.
• Two full days of expert-led practical training on designing and running citizens’ assemblies.
• Access to a high-level public panel discussion featuring international and regional experts.
• Opportunities to develop a practical citizens’ assembly proposal tailored to your community or organisation and receive expert feedback.
• Networking with a growing European community of democratic participation practitioners.

Eligibility

• Open to applicants who are at least 18 years old.
• Must be a citizen of a Council of Europe member state.
• Required to have a working level of English.
• Target profiles include young activists, civil society representatives, local and regional government representatives, youth-centre staff, political education practitioners, and individuals with a concrete interest in establishing citizens’ assemblies.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the official online application form before the deadline. Candidates should be prepared to provide personal details, organisational affiliation, a short description of current work in democratic participation, and a statement outlining their motivation and how they plan to apply the knowledge gained.

Deadline

The application deadline is 7 September 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.