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Democracy works better when everyone has a voice. But across Europe, many people from migrant and minority backgrounds still face barriers to participating in the decisions that shape their communities. How can we change that?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n This question is at the heart of <\/span>PACT (Participatory Action for Community Transformation)<\/span><\/strong>, a European project bringing together civil society organisations, local authorities, and communities to make democratic participation more inclusive, accessible, and representative.<\/span><\/p>\n Running from 2026 to 2027 and supported by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, PACT aims to strengthen the role of underrepresented communities in local decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ background_color=”#ffffff” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”12px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”3px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” link_option_url_new_window=”on” border_radii=”off|10px|10px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/place-network.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_4693-scaled.jpg” title_text=”IMG_4693″ url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ width=”430px” max_width=”80%” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”400px” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”right” min_height=”260px” custom_margin=”38px|0px||-40px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|52px||0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” height__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ text_font=”Sequel Roman Body||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.5em” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”40px|-30px|20px|-20px|false|false” custom_padding=”|40px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As part of PACT, partners across Europe organised local consultations and workshops, bringing together community members, local authorities, civil society organisations, and experts.<\/span><\/p>\n From France to Hungary, Greece, Italy, Spain, and North Macedonia, these conversations explored a shared challenge: <\/span>what prevents people from participating in local democracy, and what would make participation more meaningful?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.23.1″ background_color=”#ffffff” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”12px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”3px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” link_option_url_new_window=”on” border_radii=”off|10px|10px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|34px|12px|27px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|34px|12px|27px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In Paris, PLACE brought together minority elected officials, political scientists, and community organisers for a roundtable discussion on representation and access to political life.<\/span><\/p>\n Participants explored the challenges faced by people from minority and migration backgrounds, including limited access to political networks, institutional knowledge, and opportunities for representation.<\/span><\/p>\n The discussions also highlighted promising practices, such as bringing local council meetings directly into neighbourhoods to make participation more accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n While every community has its own experiences, the consultations revealed several common challenges across Europe:<\/span><\/p>\n These findings highlight an important point: <\/span>creating opportunities for participation is only the beginning. Making those opportunities accessible, meaningful, and inclusive is what creates lasting change.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ background_color=”#ffffff” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”12px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”3px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” link_option_url_new_window=”on” border_radii=”off|10px|10px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.1″ text_font=”Sequel Roman Body||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.5em” max_width=”600px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”73px|10px|40px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” link_option_url=”https:\/\/place-network.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/D3.1-Final-Report-on-Identified-Barriers-and-Needs.docx.pdf” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n We are pleased to share the <\/span>Final Report on Identified Barriers and Needs for the Participation of Minorities in Local Decision-Making and Political Life<\/span><\/strong>, developed as part of PACT’s third work package.<\/span><\/p>\n The report brings together insights from local consultations across Europe, identifying common barriers and the conditions needed to make democratic participation more accessible and meaningful.<\/span><\/p>\n Read the full report:<\/span><\/strong> <\/span>Final Report on Identified Barriers and Needs<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nBringing different voices to the same table<\/span><\/h5>\n
What did we learn?<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Explore the PACT report<\/span><\/h4>\n