This fall, Germany’s first permanent citizens’ assembly will convene in Aachen. It is already attracting a great deal of attention and support from the public. Aachen residents submitted 58 topics they believe the Citizens’ Assembly should address; of these, 17 received the required number of 125 votes of support. After the city administration reviewed whether the topics met the criteria, the selection of the six finalists was entrusted to the Citizens’ Assembly’s advisory committee, which includes equal representation from Aachen’s city council factions and the Citizens’ Assembly initiative. In a constructive and productive meeting, the steering committee engaged in intensive discussion regarding the selection. Ultimately, factors such as “impact beyond Aachen,” “relevance to everyday life,” and the severity of the “burden of suffering” were taken into account in the selection process.
Six topics will be put to a vote at the
Citizens’ Forum on April 18. Two topics are tied for fifth place, so it was jointly decided to present six topics to the Citizens’ Forum on April 18. The six top topics are:
How can Aachen ensure affordable rent? How can Aachen make public transportation more attractive? What can Aachen do to address vacant properties? How can we treat homeless people with dignity and help them help themselves? How can Aachen’s downtown become an attractive shopping destination again? How can Aachen make the city greener in a sustainable way?
Dana Duikers, Head of the Citizens’ Dialogue Department and Administrative Director, who participated in the meeting in an advisory capacity, spoke on behalf of the committee and expressed great satisfaction with the quality of the proposals and the diversity of topics among the selected favorites: “We now know what issues are most pressing for the people of Aachen. We’re now eager to see which topic the Citizens’ Forum will choose.” The
finalists will present their topics at a public meeting of the Citizens’ Forum on April 18. One of the topics will then be selected. All interested parties are cordially invited to attend the meeting and join the discussion.
Active, participatory,
voluntary: Actively involving citizens in political processes to foster a participatory urban community—the Citizens’ Council is a key tool for this. As a permanent, institutionalized body, the council goes far beyond a mere discussion forum.
The Citizens’ Council of the City of Aachen will consist of 56 citizens selected to be representative in terms of age, education, and social backgrounds. Participation is voluntary. The Citizens’ Council meets once or twice a year and, with the support of experts, deliberates on a relevant municipal issue that was previously proposed by fellow citizens and approved following a discussion in the Citizens’ Forum. The idea is that discussion among people from very different backgrounds can also lead to a shift in perspective. Policymakers and city officials receive direct recommendations from the citizenry. The members of the Citizens’ Council are reappointed each year.
What’s next?
Before the summer break, 3,000 people selected by lottery will be contacted and invited to participate. Based on their responses, 56 members will be chosen who are representative of the city’s diverse population. The Citizens’ Council will then be able to hold its first meeting in the fall.