2021 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

15th Edition 2021

Phase 3 of 3

Result of the vote 01/06/2021 - 02/06/2021

Process phases

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Deliberative commissions in the French-speaking Parliament of Brussels

Official proposal

14/05/2021 18:00

A deliberative commission is a place for debate between parliamentarians and citizens chosen by lot (¼ of parliamentarians, ¾ of citizens). A deliberative commission can be convened to deal with a theme that can be proposed either by one or more political groups or by a citizen who introduces a citizen suggestion.

The selection of citizens is done by a double draw. The drawing of lots makes it possible to involve people who are far from participation and decision-making. The draw is made via the national register numbers of Brussels citizens. Residents of the Brussels-Capital Region who are 16 years of age or older are eligible for the draw. There are no exclusion criteria based on nationality or length of residence. During the first draw, 10,000 letters are sent to the Brussels women selected at random. The second draw is then carried out among the respondents to the first draw. This second draw selects the participants who will sit in the Parliament during the deliberative committees as well as their substitutes. It serves to compensate for inequalities in participation and takes into account the following socio-demographic criteria: gender, age, geographical distribution, language, level of education.

The deliberation process is divided into three stages: the information phase, the deliberative phase and the voting phase. These three stages are preceded by a preparatory phase.

Following the second draw, an information session on the process for participants and parliamentarians is planned. The purpose of this briefing is to explain the different stages of the process, with a particular focus on the publicity of the debates and the question of anonymity, and to examine any specific support that may be required. Particular attention is paid to four target groups that are less likely to respond: young people, people furthest from participation and decision-making, people with disabilities and people with young children. Specific information sessions and other measures are planned for these groups.

At the first meetings, experts present a fact sheet to the participants and parliamentarians. Hearings of various actors are organised to contribute to the appropriation and knowledge of the subject.

Then, the deliberation phase separates the participants into small groups to allow them to deliberate and formulate recommendations that will then be shared.

After several meetings of the deliberative committee, parliamentarians and citizens together propose recommendations that will be dealt with in the parliament. The recommendations may lead to legislation, questions to the government and thus guide political decisions. Within 6 months after the end of the deliberative commission, the parliamentarians who participated in the deliberative commission are obliged to follow up on the recommendations, which will be presented publicly to the citizens who participated in the deliberative commission and published on the platform democratie.brussels.