CitiSense

How can the EU pursue a more effective and resilient enlargement policy by fostering understanding of its security, economic, and societal impacts among citizens? CitiSense – Making Sense of EU Enlargement for, with and by Citizens – addresses this challenge through an innovative threefold approach: "for citizens" by producing clear evidence on the costs and benefits of enlargement and non-enlargement; "with citizens" by systematically analysing public attitudes, perceptions, and concerns; and "by citizens" by creating direct opportunities to participate in debates and co-design solutions. CitiSense’s novelty lies in treating citizens not as passive recipients of knowledge but as co-creators of evidence, dialogue, and policy recommendations. CitiSense brings together 16 consortium partners – universities, think tanks, and CSOs – to investigate the security, economic, and societal dimensions of enlargement in both member states and candidate countries. It builds on previous Horizon projects adapting and scaling up proven formats like Youth Labs, Civil Society Networks, and Expert Hubs. It advances earlier research by contributing new methods and original data. The project employs a multimethod research design. CitiSense will generate a wide range of outputs: multidimensional toolboxes for policymakers, administrators, educators, and civil society, integrating public opinion data, cost–benefit analyses, and foresight scenarios with manuals for participatory mechanisms such as Hackathons, Citizen Assemblies, and Youth Labs. It will also deliver a digital guidebook of “30 FAQs on Enlargement”, a Europe-wide collection of student-authored country reports, educational resources for schools, and multimedia formats (podcasts, Instagram reels, and interactive art exhibition). Together, these outputs provide accessible, user-friendly, and transferable resources that promote transparent communication and inclusive policymaking, and inform public debate on EU enlargement.