On 24 April 2025 in Skopje, the Community of Practice on deliberative democracy in South-East Europe held its third meeting.

Co-ordinated by NALAS, the event brought together representatives from 18 municipalities and seven local government associations to share experiences, explore new democratic practices, and promote the use of citizens’ assemblies in the region.

“Deliberative democracy is not just a theory—it’s a tool for empowering citizens, building trust, and making local governance more inclusive and resilient,” emphasised Kelmend Zajazi, Executive Director of NALAS, in his opening remarks.“At NALAS, we believe that democracy must be continually reimagined to meet the needs of today’s societies. This Community offers the space to listen, connect, and turn ideas into action“, he concluded.

From practical training initiatives to assemblies, the region is seeing growing momentum for democratic innovation.  Mayor of Skopje Danela Arsovska shared insights from Skopje’s 2023 Citizens’ Assembly on climate change, an initiative that brought everyday citizens into the policy-making process. Jimmy Moloney, Head of the Irish Delegation to the Council of Europe Congress, shared successful practices from Ireland, where citizens’ assemblies have become an essential tool for democratic renewal. Participants also discussed the role and expertise of civil society in support of deliberative processes.

The Community of Practice is growing as a strong network of engaged local actors, who are taking bold steps toward a more inclusive, participatory, and trust-driven model of governance.

Community of Practice on deliberative democracy was established under the project “Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen Participation in South-East Europe”, led by the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in partnership with NALAS.