Stakeholders

	The following is an excerpt of the stakeholders' reactions to the presentation of the Citizens' Declaration: Citizens involvement in science is not only a moral need, but also a way to better understand behavioural dynamics; there is a problem of continuity and long-term relationships with the politicians, often changing due to the electoral turnover (CNRS-France). There is a strong gap between what the citizens want and what the politicians think they want, and this Citizens' declaration was successful in showing how this awareness gap could be filled; the citizens are the key actors in the play, they make the city dynamic (UITP). This event is an important example of how to let citizens feel themselves really "European". The approach should be then implemented further, talking with other EU institutions but also with national institutions; it is important to develop national debates starting from the Citizens' Declaration as the first product (European Commission, DG Education and Culture). The RAISE process is perhaps even more important than the specific outcome, i.e. the Citizens' Declaration on the City of Tomorrow; this seems the real way to communicate with the citizens. Open questions are how to continue with this participatory approach, and which mechanisms could be put in place (European Commission, DG Research). The RAISE experience shows how important is to let lay citizens become aware of the research undertaken in Europe, and of the goals or outcomes of this research. In doing this, science results must be made clear and simple for the people to understand (Ministere de l'Equipment, des Transport e du Logement, France).

The following is an excerpt of the stakeholders' reactions to the presentation of the Citizens' Declaration:

Citizens involvement in science is not only a moral need, but also a way to better understand behavioural dynamics; there is a problem of continuity and long-term relationships with the politicians, often changing due to the electoral turnover (CNRS-France).
There is a strong gap between what the citizens want and what the politicians think they want, and this Citizens' declaration was successful in showing how this awareness gap could be filled; the citizens are the key actors in the play, they make the city dynamic (UITP).
This event is an important example of how to let citizens feel themselves really "European". The approach should be then implemented further, talking with other EU institutions but also with national institutions; it is important to develop national debates starting from the Citizens' Declaration as the first product (European Commission, DG Education and Culture).
The RAISE process is perhaps even more important than the specific outcome, i.e. the Citizens' Declaration on the City of Tomorrow; this seems the real way to communicate with the citizens. Open questions are how to continue with this participatory approach, and which mechanisms could be put in place (European Commission, DG Research).
The RAISE experience shows how important is to let lay citizens become aware of the research undertaken in Europe, and of the goals or outcomes of this research. In doing this, science results must be made clear and simple for the people to understand (Ministere de l'Equipment, des Transport e du Logement, France).