The European Commission’s Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy (CC‑DEMOS) has announced a new in‑person Train‑the‑Trainers Winter School, taking place from 23–25 February 2027 in Ispra, Italy. The free three‑day programme is designed to strengthen citizen participation skills across local, regional, and national public administrations.
The Winter School will equip officials with practical tools to design, deliver, and support participatory processes, helping public institutions embed citizen engagement more effectively into policymaking. By training trainers, CC‑DEMOS aims to expand the reach of participatory methods across Europe and build long‑term capacity within administrations.
The initiative reflects the Commission’s broader commitment to improving democratic practice and ensuring that public authorities have the skills and confidence to involve citizens meaningfully in decisions that affect them.