Announcement of the Policy Recommendation Paper
We are proud to announce the release of the Understanding EU Policy Recommendation Paper!
‘How to make EU legislation more understandable for citizens’, it consolidates insights from over 700 citizens across more than 20 countries, collected through online surveys and citizen dialogues. The paper amplifies the voices of citizens who wish to engage more deeply with EU legislation but often find it difficult due to its complexity and inaccessible language.
Why this matters
EU laws affect everyone, yet over 60% of citizens report difficulty understanding them. Legal jargon, technical wording and lengthy documents make it difficult to understand one’s rights and responsibilities.
Citizens emphasised the importance of plain language, visual summaries and interactive tools to make EU legislation accessible to all, including seniors, migrants, NEETs and other disadvantaged groups.
Citizens’ voices from the dialogues and surveys:
- “Legal texts are so hard to understand — why not use everyday words?” – Citizen dialogue, Vienna
- “A one-stop site where we can find all laws in simple language would help a lot.” – Survey respondent
- “We need more opportunities like this to talk with others and share our views on EU topics.” – Citizen dialogue, Germany
Key recommendations for EU institutions, NGOs and educators:
- Use plain language in all legal documents and communications.
- Provide summaries, infographics and short explainer videos for major legal acts.
- Develop interactive digital tools, including searchable glossaries and quizzes.
- Promote dialogue and transparency to increase trust and civic engagement.
This policy paper is an important step towards bridging the gap between EU institutions and citizens, ensuring that legislation is understandable, inclusive and engaging for everyone.
