Support for the SaarMoselle Citizens' Council

The Franco-German Citizens' Council in the SaarMoselle Eurodistrict can be seen as a flagship project for cross-border citizen participation in Europe, which will receive further funding from the Robert Bosch Foundation from 2025 onwards. In this context, questions automatically arise with regard to further development options and continuity arrangements. With its ‘Common Ground’ funding project, the foundation is pursuing the overarching goal of creating sustainable participation structures in border regions in order to strengthen democracy and cohesion in Europe. 

From 2026 to 2028, Anja Röcke and Florian Weber will accompany the development of the council. The associated evaluation comprises qualitative and quantitative methods in a mixed-methods approach. The focus will be on the working methods of the citizens' council, mechanisms for connecting citizens and political decision-makers, the external impact of the council, effects on strengthening the culture of participation, and effects on cross-border cooperation.