Citizens’ Panels have become a regular feature of democratic life in the European Union: they bring together randomly selected citizens from all 27 Member States to make recommendations for the European Commission on key upcoming policies and initiatives.

Against this background, the next European Citizens’ Panel on Democratic Resilience will provide a cohort of 150 randomly selected citizens the opportunity to discuss how democracies can be strengthened across Europe. The Panel is an important element in the follow-up process to the European Democracy Shield and is accompanied by an online debate on the Commission’s Citizens’ Engagement Platform.

From September 2026 onward, Panel members convene during three sessions and work together towards this common purpose – in small groups and plenary sittings, in Brussels and online. The sessions of the Panel will take place over the following three weekends:

• Session 1 – Brussels (EC premises): 18–20 September 2026
• Session 2 – Online (remote): 16–18 October 2026
• Session 3 – Brussels (EC premises): 20–22 November 2026

By opening the Panel to observers and a broader audience, the organisers intend to strengthen its transparency and accountability. As such, researchers (from universities, think tanks, or independent), civil society organisations, institutional representatives, and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit their interest to observe and follow citizens’ deliberations during one or more sessions.

Observers are permitted to attend and witness the discussions in the plenary settings and in working group rooms, while respecting the Panel members’ work and privacy. With the consent of the citizens concerned, they can conduct interviews with them for research purposes only, if these do not impede the proceedings of the panels.

If you would like to be an observer, please express your interest via email to ecp-dem@ifok.de until the 10 September 2026.

Please be aware that observer spots are limited and subject to official confirmation by the European Commission. Travel and accommodation will not be provided. Importantly, you will be asked to attend a short virtual briefing session on the Code of Conduct for Observers, in which you will have the chance to ask questions to the Panel organisers.