Improving support for citizens’ initiatives
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Citizens' initiatives are often hindered by legislation. Dr Esmee Driessen, a guest lecturer in constitutional and administrative law and an expert in citizen participation, discusses two areas for improvement in ‘OverheidvanNu’, a platform for professionals working in government.
The Act on strengthening participation at a decentralised level that took effect in the Netherlands on 1 January 2025, aims to support the right of residents to actively participate in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of policy.
Dr Driessen is in favour of citizens’ initiatives and put forward proposals on the topic in her 2024 PhD thesis. One proposal is to create a point of contact, a civil servant with the authority to make decisions, who can help prevent citizens’ initiatives getting held up by officials who work at various departments. ‘This is one step closer to participation society’, which ensures more efficient cooperation and faster implementation of citizens’ initiatives.
A second proposal concerns the ‘decision in principle’, where the administrative body commits to seriously pursuing a citizens' initiative. According to Dr Driessen, this can be especially useful for large, high-impact projects, for example care homes. The ‘decision in principle’ can provide administrative backing, shorten waiting times, promote mutual commitment and ensure effective cooperation.
Dr Driessen argues that a service-minded attitude on the part of government is crucial in successfully guiding initiatives and creating trust among citizens.
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Read the full article in OverheidvanNu (in Dutch)