EUPART a Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation Project Cyrille Velikanov cvelikanov@gmail

1. EUPARTa Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation ProjectCyrille Velikanovcvelikanov@gmail.com

2. EUPART:a Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation Project Goals: • Provide an Internet-based instrument aimed at facilitating large-scale EU-wide multilingual eParticipation and eConsultation campaigns • Make deliberations in every European language less secluded from each other • Promote stronger horizontal ties and better common understanding within the EU community of citizens. Approach: • This will be done in EUPART by systematic translation of “best-valued” contributions (proposals, critical or supportive comments etc.) made by campaign participants, from their respective original languages into other European languages • The “value” of every contribution will result from appreciation notes (both positive and negative) assigned to it by participants of the corresponding national/linguistic community.

3. EUPART:a Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation Project Rationale (1) • Today, a consultation or voting campaign on a subject matter of pan-European importance, even when it is launched simultaneously in several member states, tends to progress as a number of disjoint actions within individual member states, with sometimes contradictory separate conclusions – because of linguistic barriers causing severe lack of mutual understanding. • This drawback would become even more apparent if an attempt is made to launch a pan-European eParticipation action on a specific theme or subject matter. Because of linguistic barriers, citizens in different EU countries would have very little information on the progress and the current trends of the campaign in other countries or linguistic communities, and in particular, on the most significant contributions made by participants in other languages.

4. EUPART:a Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation Project Rationale (2) • Obviously, fully translating all deliberations between all the EU languages cannot be done systematically. Therefore, contributions need to be ranged according to their “quality” and/or “importance” or “popularity” within every national segment, so that only the best contributions would be translated into other languages. • Selecting the “best” contributions, however, needs in turn some significant effort, and would be both too costly and potentially contestable, if performed by hired staff or by whatever administration. • Therefore, a mechanism or procedure is highly desirable which would assist participants in selecting best contributions by themselves, and also, whenever possible, translating these best contributions into other languages by themselves as well.

5. EUPART:a Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation Project Methodology • EUPART project defines every eParticipation campaign as a sequence of distinct stages or phases, in order to make it orderly and effectively progressing to sound results. • In some stages, actions are performed separately within every national segment; while in other stages, interaction between national segments is required. EUPART defines the way these interactions are performed mostly by participants themselves. • The diagram on the next slide shows cross-language flow of contributions according to the EUPART paradigm and method. • Small black circles represent native contributions, white circles represent their translations. • French, German and Dutch languages are chosen by way of example only. • Horizontal panes with dotted borders represent specific functions, that are applied to individual contributions progressing in the bottom-up direction.

6. Translated contributions can now be read and assigned appreciation notes along with native contributions within every national segment If volunteers not found, best contributions are assigned for translation to randomly selected bilingual participants, or to the (paid) campaign staff Contributions obtaining highest notes are proposed (in their original language) to other national segments, aiming at finding volunteers for their translation Contributions can now be read and assigned appreciation notes by the whole community of participants within their respective national segments Contributions undergo initial moderation and compulsory quality assessment by randomly selected participants within their respective national segments Participants write and upload their contributions in their respective languages The theme of a new deliberation campaign is published, and introductory expert information is prepared and made available in each EU language and obtain their digital signatures (authorship) Participants register under pseudonyms… German French Dutch EUPART : a Pan-European Multi-Language eParticipation Project Cyrille Velikanov (cvelikanov@gmail.com)