Draft guidelines for citizens and civil society participation in EU transport policies and projects

The study proposes draft guidelines to serve as a framework for participatory dialogues to facilitate planned Commission initiatives to implement the 2011 transport policy White Paper or infrastructure projects on the TEN-T Core Network Corridors. Participants will vary depending on the context.

A dialogue should be early, transparent, open and managed in a neutral fashion. Interventions shall receive a rapid reaction and follow up shall include information about the final outcome of the initiative. The limits to what a dialogue can achieve must be clear. Neutral management by EESC is vital to inspire confidence that will attract participants.

A dialogue can be events or internet based or a combination of both. For efficiency, flexibility and financial reasons the study prefers an internet dialogue. The study also outlines a project for finalising the guidelines through a cooperative process, including one or more test dialogues.