Project period: February 2026 – February 2028
What does “fairness” mean when we talk about digital public services or migration and return policies? How can we better include citizens’ experiences and perspectives in shaping European policies?
These are the questions behind BUILD FAIR – Bottom-Up Initiatives for a Living Democracy and Fair Futures in Digitalisation and Migration, a project implemented in Romania, Czechia, Estonia, Ireland and Spain, and coordinated by EUROPEUM.
Over the coming years, we aim to foster debate around two key European policy areas through the lens of fairness: the Digital Decade and the Pact on Migration and Asylum, while giving citizens a more active role in these discussions.
Why BUILD FAIR? Fairness as a starting point
In recent years, debates on digitalisation and migration have often focused on efficiency, security, or competitiveness. BUILD FAIR starts from a different question: Are European policies perceived as fair? And how do they look from different national contexts, socio-economic realities, and the perspectives of those who may benefit from them — or, on the contrary, feel unprepared, excluded, or threatened by their effects?
When it comes to digital public services, citizens are the end users of systems developed by the state — from taxation to healthcare and education services. Their experiences are therefore essential for understanding where barriers, inequalities, or perceptions of unfairness emerge.
In the field of migration, the project seeks to understand not only the experiences of affected groups, but also how citizens evaluate European policies on solidarity between Member States and return procedures. What do people consider fair? Which principles shape their views on migration? The answers may differ significantly across countries and national contexts.
The project team
BUILD FAIR brings together organisations and experts from five European Union Member States: Romania, Czechia, Estonia, Ireland and Spain. The project creates spaces for dialogue between citizens, experts, civil society organisations, journalists, and policymakers to better understand how fairness can be embedded into European policymaking.
In Romania, CRPE will coordinate activities including consultations with public and non-governmental stakeholders, journalists, citizen focus groups, participatory workshops, national debate events, and a representative national consultation on the two EU policy areas. Over the next two years, we will publish reports and recommendations based on these activities.
Why citizen participation matters
BUILD FAIR is based on the idea that public policies become more legitimate and effective when they include the perspectives of those directly affected by them. Understanding how citizens define solidarity or fair access can help shape European policies that are more grounded in people’s realities.
If you would like to learn more about our activities, you can find them below:
BUILD FAIR is funded by the European Union through the CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV programme. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
