At Sortition Europe, we are proud to have conducted the democratic lottery to select participants for the recent European Citizens’ Panel on the New European Budget, an innovative initiative hosted by the European Commission bringing citizens right into the EU’s budgeting decisions and challenges in a meaningful and impactful way.
The Panel invited 150 citizens from all 27 EU member states selected by democratic lottery to reflect Europe’s demographic diversity in terms of age, gender, geography, socio-economic background, education level, and attitude towards the EU. Our team ensured a fair and transparent process for this lottery selection, grounded in the principles of democratic legitimacy and inclusivity.
As Gaëtane Ricard-Nihoul, Deputy Head of Citizens’ Engagement at the European Commission, described the final selection: “The diversity of this Panel was of very high quality and closely aligned with all the socio-demographic targets set.”
One of the Panel’s principal co-coordinators, Yves Mathieu, founder and co-director of Missions Publiques in France, added: “There was a very positive atmosphere. We had highly engaged sessions with the group. It’s a very good Panel in terms of diversity so far – an incredible achievement for Sortition!”
The Panel convened for three weekends – the first in-person in Brussels at the end of March, the second online in April, and then in-person again in mid-May.
The outcome was 23 forward-looking recommendations that offer a citizen-centred vision for the EU’s future budget.
Among the Panel’s key recommendations were:
- Greater investment in education and innovation.
- Stronger funding for climate action and environmental protection.
- A push for fair taxation and more transparent budgetary processes.
- Support for local communities and policies that bridge economic disparities across regions.
These proposals represent the collective voice of a diverse cross-section of Europeans who came together to deliberate with care, respect, and commitment to the common good.
You can explore the full list of the 23 recommendations here or read a brief summary here.
Looking Ahead: New EU Panels in Progress
Building on this success, Sortition Europe is already coordinating the EU-wide democratic lottery for two upcoming citizen engagement projects starting in September 2025:
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European Citizens' Panel on Intergenerational Fairness
This panel will address how EU policies today impact future generations – one of the most pressing ethical challenges in policymaking,
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Young Citizens’ Assembly on Pollinators
A unique opportunity for young people aged 18-29 to engage directly with EU policy, focusing on biodiversity and the vital role of wild pollinators in Europe’s economy and ecosystems.
Together with our SORT-EU partner network, organisations working on in-country recruitment and related communication in each of the EU member states, we believe that citizens' assemblies selected by democratic lottery are one of the most powerful ways to bridge the gap between institutions and the people they serve. As we continue our work across the continent, we remain committed to upholding the democratic potential of sortition-based processes—bringing real people into meaningful dialogue and decision-making about Europe’s future.
Photo credit: European Commission