Bringing the EU closer to citizens: civic monitoring of EU-funded projects
Europe’s path toward deeper integration continues to be challenged by difficulties in effectively connecting with citizens and fostering a shared sense of identity. The European Union (EU) grapples with not only a democratic deficit but also gaps in communication and participation. As a result, the EU is often seen as distant, technocratic, and inaccessible to the so-called “non-experts”.
This further alienates local communities, threatening popular legitimacy toward the European project. In response to this condition, which has become structural, EU institutions have implemented and supported innovative practices aimed at communicating Europe effectively at the local level, ensuring citizens receive accurate and relevant information.
European communication has the twofold function of delivering information and engaging citizenry in public life. Civil society organizations and institutional bodies have played a crucial role in advancing these efforts by developing concrete, impactful approaches to bridge the gap between EU institutions and citizens.
One such approach is the civic monitoring of EU-funded projects—a practice that informs and actively engages communities, making Europe more tangible and accessible. Civic monitoring is an innovative and promising participatory approach that allows citizens to verify, evaluate, and provide feedback on publicly funded projects, specifically those financed by the EU.
This practice fosters transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment while showcasing the tangible ways EU resources benefit local communities, making Europe more relatable and visible in people’s everyday lives. It makes the impact of policies visible to citizens, building trust in EU institutions and reinforcing a shared European identity, thereby helping to mitigate the aforementioned democratic deficit mentioned.
Civic monitoring and cohesion policy: best practices from Italy
Civic monitoring has proven effective across Europe, particularly in policy areas such as regional and urban development. This policy addresses regional disparities and reflects the EU’s core values of solidarity and shared progress. In doing so, it aims to promote economic, social, and territorial cohesion, helping to reduce disparities between regions and foster balanced growth.
Countries like Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, and Spain have already embraced civic monitoring with positive outcomes. Digital tools, such as e-participation platforms rooted in the e-democracy paradigm, have opened up new opportunities to advance this practice. Europe has recently launched Kohesio, the European digital hub for cohesion policy projects, to provide accessible information on EU-funded initiatives across various regions.
Through this platform, citizens can directly see how the EU is improving their communities, from building schools to upgrading public infrastructure. For what concerns member states, Italy has been particularly proactive in testing this practice, and several case studies provide valuable analytical insights, highlighting its potential to enhance knowledge about the EU at the local level and strengthen the sense of belonging to the common European project.
Open Coesione is an open government initiative focused on cohesion policies in Italy. The platform allows users to explore data on programmed and spent resources, project locations, thematic areas, program and implementing bodies, timelines, project outcomes, and payments. This enables citizens to assess how resources are being used in relation to the needs of local communities. Within Open Coesione, two initiatives have been notable and active since 2013.
One of them is At the School of Open Coesione (in italian, A scuola di Open Coesione). Implemented in collaboration with Italy’s Ministry of Education and the European Commission’s representatives in Italy, this represents an innovative educational program designed to promote and foster active, responsible citizenship in middle and secondary schools.
The program engages students in civic monitoring and research of projects funded through Italian and European cohesion policy. Youth represents one of the main targets of European communication and participation activities. On the other hand, and on a broader scale, Monithon ETS represents an independent civic monitoring project focused on public funding rooted in the Third Sector. It is open to all citizens regardless of age and enables them to actively participate in tracking and evaluating how public funds are allocated and spent in relation to local needs. Monithon specifically targets projects funded by cohesion policies.
Another significant initiative is the civic monitoring workshop for EU-funded projects, with a particular focus on cohesion policy, launched by the Europe Direct Centre in Turin. Launched in 2015, this initiative has been institutionalized an academic workshop (EU Cohesion Policies and Communication Strategies of the Territories) within the University of Turin since 2019, becoming part of a broader high level training program on European public communication and innovative participatory practices supported by the Jean Monnet program of the EU (Jean Monnet Module CoEUr 2019-2021 and Jean Monnet Chair Com4T.EU 2023-2026).
Overall, these practical examples serve to demonstrate that innovation relies on the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders involved in the policy making process and in particular institutions, civil society organisation and universities.
In particular, the last case study presented is particularly significant because it introduces a new analytical perspective: the potential of this practice in cross-border regions. Turin is the only metropolitan city in Italy that confines with another EU member state (in this case, France) and is part of a cross-border region involved in two Interreg programs: Interreg Alcotra and Interreg Alpine Space.
Since Interreg funds projects at the local level and within
cross-border areas, it becomes both interesting and essential to consider the potential benefits of this practice for enhanced cross-border cooperaion.
Civic monitoring in cross-border regions: an innovative bottom-up approach
Civic monitoring of EU-funded projects in cross-border regions, especially within the Interreg framework, offers a transformative opportunity to bridge divides and deepen
European integration. By involving citizens in the oversight and evaluation of cross-border initiatives, this practice fosters a deeper understanding of how EU resources contribute to shared prosperity. It highlights the tangible impact of EU policies on regional development and encourages citizens to engage with funding opportunities to bring innovative ideas to life, tailoring solutions to local and cross-border challenges.
Beyond its informative role, civic monitoring in cross-border contexts strengthens mutual knowledge and cooperation between neighboring countries. By working together on shared projects, communities gain insight into each other's cultures, priorities, and perspectives. This fosters trust and collaboration, which are essential for addressing common issues and building resilient regional networks.
As previously mentioned, civic monitoring reinforces the core values of the EU—solidarity, democracy, and inclusivity—while nurturing a sense of European identity. As citizens witness the EU's role in facilitating cross-border collaboration, they develop a stronger connection to the European project. This shared understanding and sense of belonging can counter Euroscepticism and encourage active participation in shaping the future of their regions.
Ultimately, civic monitoring empowers citizens to become stakeholders in a united and cohesive Europe, where cross-border cooperation exemplifies the strength of unity in diversity.
Final remarks: a promising but yet challenging practice for cross-border regions
Despite its potential, communicating the EU’s impact in cross-border regions which often tend to be peripheral, mountainous and rural areas remains a challenge. These regions often exhibit higher levels of Euroscepticism, making it vital to tailor engagement strategies to their unique contexts.
Civic monitoring offers a promising avenue, but its success depends on the active collaboration of policymakers, civil society, and local communities. Efforts to expand these practices need to focus on inclusivity and accessibility. This includes addressing
linguistic and cultural diversity while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their location or background, feel part of the European project.
References
● Alfonsi, C., Varazzani, C., Tan, E. H. Y. & Sullivan-Paul, M. (2022). Public communication trends after COVID-19: Innovative practices across the OECD and in four Southeast Asian countries.
● D'Ambrosi, L. (2019). La comunicazione pubblica dell'Europa. Istituzioni, cittadini e media digitali (pp. 1-160). Carocci.
● Lovari, A., & Belluati, M. (2023). We Are All Europeans. EU Institutions Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic and Information Crisis. In Infodemic Disorder: Covid-19 Coping Strategies in Europe, Canada and Mexico (pp. 65-96). Cham: Springer International
Publishing.
● Maresi, A., & D'Ambrosi, L. (2016). Dal comunicare al fare l’Europa. Best practice e linee guida operative.
● Pane, S. (2024). Communicating to Engage: the Role of Civic Monitoring in Shaping European Identity. European Studies Review.
● Smillie, L., & Scharfbillig, M. (2024). Trustworthy Public Communications.
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