Work Packages

WP1 serves as the central hub for the coordination of administrative, scientific, and implementation activities within the project. The University of Coimbra will lead WP1 as the coordinating partner, collaborating closely with all other project partners. This work package will span the entire duration of the project, ensuring seamless integration of efforts across all phases.

Goals

1. Planning and Documentation: This involves meticulously planning and documenting meetings to ensure adherence to all legal, financial, and reporting requirements set forth by the European Commission (EC). It guarantees timely achievement of project objectives from both technical and financial perspectives.
2. Effective Communication: Work package 1 aims to establish and maintain efficient communication channels among project partners and between partners and the EC. This facilitates consistency and coherence throughout the project, ensuring alignment with tasks and milestones
3. Risk Management: This objective involves identifying and monitoring project risks, as well as implementing mitigation and contingency plans. 

Deliverables
1. 03/2024 D1.1 Project Handbook and quality plan
2. 2/2024, 12/2025, 12/2026, 12/2027 D1.2 Periodic and final reports in accordance with the project requirements
3. 03/2024 D1.3 Data Management Plan
4. 06/2024 D1.4 Risk Management Plan 

WP2 aims to establish the theoretical and methodological foundations necessary for the successful implementation of the project's objectives, particularly focusing on the design and evaluation of Citizens’ Assemblies through the lenses of democracy, intersectionality, equality, inclusiveness, and deliberation.

Goals

1. Provide clear definitions of central concepts such as intersectionality, equality, inclusivity, and deliberation.
2. Develop a thorough theoretical understanding of deliberative and participatory democratic practices, with a focus on mini-publics, through an intersectional lens.
3. Further develop the framework for the Citizens’ Assembly, setting the tone for the project's remaining work packages by integrating theory developed under Goal 1.

Deliverables  
05/2024 D2.1 Bibliographic Map
08/2024 D2.2 Interim Report on the project’s analytical and normative framework
12/2024 D2.3 Development of the Framework for the Design of a Citizens’ Assembly
12/2024 D2.4 Policy Scoping Review

This work package will aim to enhance the design and operation of Citizens' Assemblies. First, existing Assemblies at both the EU and Member State levels will be mapped and assessed. Then, a qualitative analysis will be conducted on selected Assemblies and a survey-based evaluation will be carried out, collecting feedback from citizens who have participated in these Assemblies. Experts' workshops will follow, bringing together specialists in participatory democracy to share insights and feedback. 

Goals

1. Assess existing Citizens' Assemblies: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing forms of Citizens' Assemblies at both EU and national/local levels, with a focus on intersectional equality perspective.
2. Propose plausible models: Develop three plausible models for a Citizens' Assembly, incorporating features identified during the assessment to ensure consideration of intersectional equality issues in design and implementation.

Deliverables
07/2025 D3.1 Data set of empirical results
07/2025 D3.2 EU-CIEMBLY Experts’ Workshop Conference 1 in Essex
10/2025 D3.3 Report on the effectiveness of the existing Citizens’ Assemblies against the normative framework developed in WP2
10/2025 D3.4 Report on the models’ design 

This work package is structured to manage the technical and practical aspects of piloting three Citizens’ Assemblies models, conduct the pilots, and evaluate them.

Goals

1. Manage technical and practical aspects: Oversee the logistics and execution of the pilot Citizens’ Assemblies
2. Conduct pilots: Implement the three Citizens’ Assemblies models in real-world scenarios.
3. Evaluate pilots: Assess the effectiveness and feasibility of the pilot assemblies to propose a final recommended prototype for an EU Citizens’ Assembly.

Deliverables
12/2025 D4.1 Report on the practical management of the model Assemblies
01/2026 D4.2 Online training of facilitators
06/2025 D.4.3 Data set of empirical results on pilots
02/2027 D4.4 Report on the evaluation of the pilot  

This work package focuses on the policy impact, design, and implementation of changes to increase, enhance, and ensure more inclusive and intersectional participation in Citizens' Assemblies. It aims to involve policy-makers and decision-makers throughout the process, ensuring their continuous engagement even after the project concludes, alongside citizens and stakeholders, in the development of participatory mechanisms that fully account for diverse perspectives.

Goals

1. Define a prototype EU Citizens' Assembly with recommendations on intersectional equality, tailored to the EU context.
2. Involve EU and national policy-makers.
3. Achieve a positive impact and establish the EU-CIEMBLY Living Lab as an Observatory

Deliverables
06/2026 D5.1 Report drawn from the activity within the forums.
10/2027 D5.2 Recommendations for policy-makers in the form of a widely disseminated multilingual online publication.
12/2027 D5.3 Questionnaire on Policy Recommendations

Work package 6 aims to coordinate the dissemination of the project’s actions, outcomes, and deliverables across all project partners. It focuses on facilitating communication and ensuring that project information reaches both the general public and policymakers effectively.

Goals:

1. Ensure strategic communication and dissemination of project outputs to stakeholders and EU institutions, promoting collaboration with relevant projects.
2. Raise awareness and visibility of the project's results among target audiences.
3. Share academic findings at international conferences in law, political science, business, and linguistics.
4. Disseminate results more widely to society to increase impact and ensure sustainability beyond the funding period.

Deliverables
05/2024 D6.1 Communication Plan
08/2024 D6.2 Project Website
12/2024, 12/2025, 12/2026, 12/2027 D6.3 Promotion Activities - Media Reports
06/2026 D6.4 Oral History Exhibition