CIVITEC Partners Meet in Donegal
CIVITEC Partners from across Europe gathered in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal on 12–13 May 2026 for their sixth interregional partner meeting, hosted by Donegal County Council. The two-day event brought together local authorities, policymakers and project partners to exchange experiences and explore innovative approaches to citizen engagement, digital governance and public participation.
The meeting opened with a welcome from Cllr Paul Canning, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, alongside moderator Caroline Creamer. Early sessions focused on the evolving digital landscape within Donegal, with presentations covering GIS tools, online forms, digital communications, online engagement, notifications and connectivity initiatives.
Daragh McDonough and Eunan Quinn from Donegal County Council led the partnership meeting and highlighted the increasing importance of accessible and user-focused digital services in supporting stronger connections between citizens and local authorities.
Participants also took part in a panel discussion on the effectiveness of participation practices, led by Elaine Edmonds, which explored how public administrations can encourage more meaningful and inclusive citizen involvement in decision-making processes. Further sessions examined the psychology of online engagement, levels of public trust in government processes and the challenges associated with increasing digital participation.
Day two centred on the relationship between citizen engagement and policy development. Discussions explored the County Development Plan process, the operational implications of increased public participation and the growing role of artificial intelligence within public administration. Sessions also examined how AI chatbots may support local authorities in communicating complex policy instruments more clearly and effectively to citizens.
An interactive workshop facilitated by Caroline Creamer and Brendan O’Keefe encouraged partners to share practical experiences and ideas around improving engagement, addressing barriers faced by citizens and identifying which technologies are most effective in supporting participation.
The workshop reflected the international and knowledge-sharing focus of the CIVITEC partnership.
The meeting concluded with partnership discussions on project progress, good practices, pilot applications, policy improvement activities and preparations for the next CIVITEC meeting in Preveza.
The CIVITEC project continues to strengthen interregional cooperation and support the development of more inclusive, innovative and citizen-centred governance practices across participating regions. Donegal County Council also acknowledged the valuable contributions of speakers, facilitators and project partners from across Europe whose expertise supported the success of the event.