From October 28 to 30, 2024, Szeged, Hungary, hosted the third international meeting of the PHOENIX project, bringing together partners and stakeholders from across Europe. Over three days, participants shared project progress, explored innovative solutions for citizen engagement in environmental decision-making, and planned the next steps toward the final conference in Brussels.

Day 1: Kickoff and Pilot Updates

The meeting began with welcome remarks and an overview of PHOENIX’s current status. Representatives from the pilot sites shared their achievements, highlighting challenges and solutions for adapting democratic innovations to diverse local contexts. Group sessions allowed partners to discuss lessons learned and develop recommendations for the future.

Day 2: Digital Tools and Policy Recommendations

Day two focused on the digital tools created by PHOENIX to facilitate citizen participation, such as digital voting systems and interactive games. Participants collaborated on developing policy recommendations, addressing the project’s six major challenges and crafting key messages for the future of the European Green Deal.

Day 3: Final Conference Planning and Closing Reflections

The last day was dedicated to planning the final event in Brussels, where PHOENIX’s findings and outcomes will be presented. Partners discussed how to best share the project’s insights and recommendations, setting the stage for a meaningful conclusion. The meeting wrapped up with a reflection on the accomplishments so far and special thanks to the city of Szeged for hosting.

The international meeting in Szeged was a pivotal moment, strengthening partnerships and reinforcing PHOENIX’s commitment to a participatory, sustainable green transition in Europe.