Citizen engagement in decision-making during times of crises by way of governments’ e-petitions/digital petitions within the EU via national systems

The idea of greater citizen engagement in decision-making is not new, nor is it solely a European concept. However, in the European Union (EU), the citizen as a standalone democratic actor has gained more attention than in other regions. We are witnessing a push towards institutionalizing citizens in EU governance to a greater extent than before. Through various institutional means, citizens may engage in policy formulation, law-making, or accountability processes. One of the key instruments and channels of this institutionalization is the government-instigated online petition. This initiative is comparable to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), and has multiplied in number in recent years across the EU. During times of crises, decisions are made in the name of “the people” or “citizens.” Therefore, this contribution aims to investigate how and to what extent this disruptive technique of digital petitions may galvanize or facilitate citizen participation in decision-making during such crises through national systems within the EU.