The European Policy Centre and EuroHealthNet are pleased to invite you to participate in the online Policy Lab ‘Wellbeing governance. Participatory and deliberative approaches’, organised in the framework of the MERGE Horizon Europe project.
- WHEN: 11 Jun 2026 from 9.30 to 12.00 CET
- WHERE: online, the Zoom link will be shared with registered participants.
- REGISTER HERE BY 09 JUN.
Wellbeing governance starts with listening. But how do we turn participation into real policy change? The MERGE Policy Lab will explore how citizens’ assemblies, participatory democracy and child and youth engagement can contribute to more inclusive, democratic and resilient policymaking.
Agenda
9:30 — Welcome and introduction
- Valentina Caimi, Senior Programme Manager, Health and Societal Resilience Programme, European Policy Centre (EPC)
9:40 — Setting the scene: Citizen Engagement and Wellbeing
- Moderated by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Executive Chair, Earth4All and Honorary President/Global Ambassador, The Club of Rome
- Professor Robert Costanza, Professor of Ecological Economics, University College London, UCL Institute for Global Prosperity
- Ângela Guimarães Pereira, Head of Sector, Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy, Joint Research Centre, European Commission’s
- Q&A
10:20 — Parallel break-out sessions
1. Citizens’ Assemblies and other participatory approaches
- Constantin Schäfer, Director EU Relations and Projects, ifok GmbH
- Nicole De Palmenaer, Study Service Advisor, German-speaking Community of Belgium
- Karolin Martinson, Analyst and User Support, Rahvaalgatus.ee
2. Child and youth engagement in policymaking
- Tove Kjellander, Senior Advisor on Child Participation, Save the Children
- Mateusz Tokarski, Policy Analyst, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
- Giorgia De Giacomi, City Councillor of the City of Bologna and Regional Coordinator for ANCI Emilia-Romagna on Generational Impact Assessment
11:40 — Reporting back from the break-out sessions
Conclusions, Silvia Ganzerla and Valentina Caimi
Join us!
In breakout sessions, participants will exchange experiences, discuss current challenges and co-create recommendations for more inclusive and participatory governance systems that support sustainable wellbeing.
If you are a policymaker, civil servant, researcher, or civil society organisation working on participatory governance, wellbeing or democratic innovation, this is your space!
Register by 09 Jun here.
For more information, please contact our colleague Valentina Caimi (EPC): v.caimi@epc.eu
