A collaborative conference bringing practitioner experience and academic research together to assess, discover and develop citizen involvement in EU public policy.Thursday, 5 May 2016University of Liverpool Foresight Centre – Liverpool, EnglandAs the European Union faces multiple crises, this timely event will explore current challenges and future opportunities for enhancing the participation of citizens in shaping the policies and direction of the EU. It will build on learning from diverse approaches to participation including citizens’ initiatives and petitions, deliberative forums, referendums, campaigning and citizen lobbying, stakeholder consultation, protest movements and more. Participants will together imagine new ways and means to develop a more participative and democratic European Union. This conference will bring together European democracy activists, campaigners, academics and policy makers to ensure a rich environment for collaboration where diverse perspectives and complementary expertise can support the emergence of promising ideas. Thought-provoking presentations from leading thinkers on public participation will feed into participatory workshops to share and strengthen both formal and informal tools and ensure the full, constructive and responsible involvement of EU citizens.Please join us in Liverpool on the 5th of May 2016! Attendance is free but places are limited.Registration to the conference is free of charge - Please visit our registration page.Please note: Registration will close on Friday 29th April. Late bookings will not be accepted.As places are limited, if you register but can no longer attend please let us know at your earliest convenience.Organisers:The Liverpool European Law Unit, University of Liverpool, is a leading centre of excellence for academic research and policy impact in the area The ECI Campaign has been advocating for a user-friendly and impactful European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) since 2002. It also works within the Citizens for Europe network to strengthen EU citizen participation via organised civil society.The Democratic Society is a UK-based membership organisation that aims to make democracy work for the 21st century. It tries to build a more participative democracy, based on good information, transparent government and open decision making.With media partner people2power.info which links modern democratic ideas and initiatives with actors and institutions across all borders and offers stories, analysis, facts and opinions about when, where, who and how people make their voices heard.