12th Danube Participation Day
“Local Voices, European Future – The Crucial Role of Communities in Shaping EU Policy and Driving Enlargement”
The 12th Danube Participation Day takes place in Sarajevo on 4 November 2025, back-to-back with the 14th EUSDR Annual Forum.
Under the motto “Local Voices, European Future – The Crucial Role of Communities in Shaping EU Policy and Driving Enlargement”, the event will highlight the contribution of local communities to the EU accession process, exploring how municipalities and local actors can support democratic development, and promote good governance in enlargement countries.
Join stakeholders from across the Danube Region for a day of exchange, participation, and inspiration—including:
– Engaging Panel Discussions
– Interactive World Café Sessions
– The Danube Participation Agora
– Networking Opportunities
Share your experience and discuss with us how can we support a meaningful culture of participation to improve regional development and safeguard structural reforms and how this can be utilised in view of EU Enlargement.
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Registration |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Opening Session | Welcome Address
Moderation: Adla Dizdar Hodžić, Local Democracy Agency Mostar |
| 10:30 – 11:45 | Panel Discussion | Bridging the Gap: Integrating Local Bottom-Up Initiatives into the EU Enlargement Agenda
Moderation: Adla Dizdar Hodžić, Local Democracy Agency Mostar |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | Danube Participation Agora: Introduction of Initiatives |
| 12:00 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch & Agora |
| 13:30 – 13:45 | Introduction to the Danube Participation Day World Café Sessions |
| 13:45 – 15:00 |
Mutual Learning and Capacity Building in Local Communities for Shaping EU Policy and Driving Enlargement – Danube Participation Day World Café All participants have the opportunity to contribute to all themes. Each round will last 20 minutes.
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| 15:00 – 15:45 | Funders Talks: Boosting Development in the Danube Region |
| 15:45 – 16:00 | Closing Session | Passing the Bell
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The 12th Danube Participation Day is supported by:
About the Danube Participation Day
The Danube Participation Day gathers representatives from civil society organisations, local, regional and national public authorities, university and research from the 14 EUSDR partner countries, representatives from the EUSDR governance as well as from European and international organisations. The aim is to foster cooperation and participation for better development in the Danube Region. Thus, the Danube Participation Days serves as a platform for exchanging views and perceptions among each other, discussing good-practices of participatory governance and project implementations as well as for getting involved with decision-makers.
The Danube Participation Day is organised by Priority Area 10 “Institutional Capacity and Cooperation” and the Danube Civil Society Forum together with further local partners as well as in close cooperation with the EUSDR Presidencies.
