Citizens' advisory group in Lyon
The Citizens’ Advisory Group in France took place on 23 November 2013, in Lyon. It was organised by EuropaNova, a French think-tank. The citizens participating in the French consultation were randomly invited according to the following criteria: different age groups, different vocations, gender, attitude towards Europe (to provide a balance) and willingness to be part of a discussion on the future of Europe.
The citizens represented at the Citizens’ Advisory Group in France preferred Strategic Option 5 “Change the logic “more” or “less” Europe” which was given 26,3% of the vote. Their reasons for the choice ranged from
- New impetus for the EU
- Common values through culture and education
- Common future for all European citizens
- Feeling of belonging to the EU
- More trust in the European institutions
Overall, most participants viewed Strategic Option 5 as a means to bridge the gap between citizens and the EU although there was disagreement regarding the fact that the EU should then be seen as a model for other regions of the world: citizens widely agreed on the necessity to differentiate and respect all cultures.
