From public debate to public dialogue in Romania
As a member of the European Union, Romania is increasingly confronted with important policy decisions concerning highly relevant issues, such as liveability, accessibility, economic development and international cooperation. Such challenges require a strong socio-economic basis as well as the opportunity for citizens to be heard. The Dutch government has responded to a request of the Romanian government for assistance in improving the way in which the Romanian public is involved in decision-making processes.
A project consortium, consisting of Ameco, the Dutch Centre for Public Participation, and the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) supported the project counterpart (Ministry of Environment and Forestry) and beneficiaries by sharing expertise and information, as well as experiences gained in the form of ‘lessons learned’, on public participation in EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) procedures in Romania and The Netherlands.
One of the results of the two-year government-to-government (G2G) cooperation on enhanced public participation is a manual, which will contribute to a further optimisation of these processes in Romania. This manual provides a general explanation of public participation in relation to EIA and SEA procedures. Furthermore, it outlines the whole public participation process via a hands-on six-step action plan as well as presenting recommendations on how to practically prepare a public debate in relation to relevant Romanian plans or projects. Finally, the manual comprehensively describes various techniques to enhance efficient and effective communication during the public debate itself.
Download the developed manual.
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