The REDIRECT project organised an online stakeholder session to discuss the findings of a Delphi expert consultation on strategies for reconnecting citizens and institutions in representative democracy. The event brought together stakeholders with expertise on parliaments, political parties, and European decision-making to reflect on how research insights can be translated into feasible policy actions.
The discussion focused on three key pillars of representative democracy: citizens, political parties, and representative assemblies. Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening citizens’ monitoring capacities and investing in civic education, improving transparency and regulation in parliamentary systems, and exploring new forms of political participation within political parties. At the same time, the debate acknowledged that reforms in party organization remain more contested and uncertain than those related to transparency and civic engagement.
The session formed part of a broader REDIRECT workshop held at the University of Exeter and provided an opportunity to assess the relevance, feasibility, and potential impact of the recommendations emerging from the project’s Delphi exercise. By engaging stakeholders directly with the project’s findings, the discussion contributed to identifying pragmatic and institutionally feasible pathways for addressing the representative disconnect.
Date: 24 February 2026
Location: Online (workshop hosted by the University of Exeter)
Partners: University of Exeter University of Siena (UNISI), University of Salento
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