Prospects for e-democracy in Europe. Part III: Policy options: Study. IP/G/STOA/FWC/2013-001/LOT 8/C4

In order to make e-participation tools at the EU level more successful, we provide four policyoptions: 1) Stimulate experiments with participatory budgeting in relation to the Regional and Social Funds since e-budgeting produces the strongest results when it comes to impact on decision-making. 2) Expand online engagement with MEPs beyond petitions, particularly through the introductionof a public functionality for posing questions to MEPs and their staff.3) Create a platform for monitoring Member State actions during Council decisions, since keyinformation is simply not available through ordinary channels. 4) Explore crowdsourcing of policy ideas for the European Commission. Early-stage policy development could benefit from open and frank sharing of ideas between citizens, Commissioners and their staff.