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48and understanding among citizens about their rights and responsibilities. Manycitizens are not aware of their role in the decision-making process, andtherefore, they do not participate in it. This lack of understanding results in alimited pool of individuals that can be engaged and mobilised, ultimately leadingto a loss of diversity in voices and perspectives in the decision-making process.Another significant challenge is the lack of access to information andresources that enable citizens to effectively engage in the decision-makingprocess. In many cases, the information provided by the government is limited,confusing, and difficult to access, which makes it difficult for citizens to makeinformed decisions. Additionally, many citizens lack the resources, includingtime and finances, to engage fully in the process.Furthermore, there is often a significant power imbalance between citizensand elected officials, which can deter citizens from engaging in the decisionmaking process. The lack of transparency and accountability in thedecision-making process can also limit citizens%u2019 ability to hold elected officialsaccountable for their actions and decisions (Mowesley, 2023).Conclusion A resilient European democracy requires meaningful citizen participation. Butthe EU%u2019s participatory system looks like a patchwork of disconnectedinstruments. It is largely unknown and creates little impact. To give citizens asay and deepen democracy, the EU needs to develop a fully-fledgedparticipation infrastructure. The EU needs to improve its dialogue with civilsociety and promote more clearly the existing participation tools with EUcitizens.Self-check exercises1. Citizen engagement is a top-down initiative, initiated by governments. TrueFalse1 Citizen CommitmentYES NO