Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2836 of 12 December 2023 on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes

Official Journal of the European Union EN L series 2023/2836 20.12.2023 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2023/2836 of 12 December 2023 on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 292 thereof, Whereas: (1) As enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (‘TEU’), the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Article 10(3) TEU provides to every citizen the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union and requires that decisions are taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen. Article 165(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) provides a basis for Union action to encourage the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe. (2) Article 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘the Charter’) ensures the right of freedom of association and the right to freedom of assembly. This entails the right of individuals to unite in groups or organised structures. That right – as recognised by the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘CJEU’) – constitutes one of the essential bases of a democratic and pluralist society, inasmuch as it allows citizens to act collectively in fields...