Given the rapid pace of societal changes induced by science, technology and innovation, citizens and their representative associations should have the opportunity to express their opinions regarding the development of research policies. In this context, various ways of involving citizens in policy making have been developed during the last thirty years in different regional or national frameworks. In order to accompany harmoniously the building up of the European Research Area, it is the Commission’s intention to favour further developments in this field, at regional, national or community levels.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/science-governance/involving-citizens_en.html
