Table 2 Policy and participation process in the Rhenish mining district 2019–2021
From: How Germany is phasing out lignite: insights from the Coal Commission and local communities
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Policy process | Participation procedures | Policy process | Participation procedures | Policy process | Participation procedures |
Start of the fast-track structural strengthening program | Informing about citizen participation options | Start of selection procedures for projects | Permanent citizens' council, district forum, district tours and talks, online dialogue (polling future visions and ideas) | General meeting of the Future Agency (“Zukunftsagentur”) | Submission of the citizens' report (comments from the citizens' point of view) |
Kick-off conference of the regional hubs | Participation in the conference | Structural strengthening act and coal phase-out act become law | District workshop (obtain opinions on future topics) | Signing of the district contract | Passage of the participation charter (binding policy document) |
Economic program 1.0 submitted to government | Consultation process | Publication of the framework directive for the implementation of measures | District forum and discussions (development of guidelines for civil society participation) | Economic and structural program 1.1 | Completion of the first public participation phase and planning of a second phase |