The challenges and opportunities in the field of participatory policymaking differ across the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine), but all six countries face shortcomings in the clarity, effectiveness, and inclusiveness of their policy-drafting and evaluation procedures.

From access to information to opportunities for citizens to participate in direct democracy – whether holding to account the heads of regional executive authorities, or engagement in referenda, petitions or public initiatives – to forms of public participation in policymaking, such as stakeholder analyses, expert reviews, roundtables, and online consultations – all the Eastern Partnership countries have room for improvement in terms of the regularity and inclusiveness of consultations around new policies and draft legislation. In all cases, there is also a need for more training of public officials in co-ordinating public outreach and consultation processes around draft legislation.

This study examines the existing laws, agencies and procedures governing civil participation in political decision-making at national and local level in the six countries, and will be complemented by a second study in 2016 that will examine the experience of implementation of civil participation in political decision-making.