Conflict in Projects: Participation as a Tool for Solutions

Day 1: European Experiences in Citizen Engagement

The first day was a closed session directed at the REGIO Peer2Peer community on public participation. The programme included expert workshops and a study visit to CUPT’s headquarters — a place where public participation has genuinely shaped the public space.

João Dinis from the municipality of Cascais (Portugal) demonstrated how long-term communication can engage residents even around challenging topics such as climate policy. Luigi Reggi from Monithon Europe highlighted citizen monitoring as a way of transforming conflicts into constructive dialogue. Brian Barrett from Galway City Council (Ireland) spoke about designing participatory processes that are accessible to groups who rarely take part in consultations.

Day 2: The Psychology of Conflict and Prevention

The second day took the form of an open conference, bringing together experts from public administration, local government, civic organisations, and representatives of the European Commission.

A panel devoted to the psychology of conflict addressed the practical aspects of managing social tensions — emotions, manipulation, trust-building, and communication in crisis situations. Panellists from Gdańsk, Łódź, and abroad were united in their view: plain language and empathy achieve more than formal consultation procedures.

The workshop “Participation as a Tool for Conflict Prevention” confirmed that many disputes around investment projects do not stem from opposition to change — but from a sense of exclusion from the decision-making process. Transparency and honest dialogue significantly increase public acceptance, even for difficult infrastructure decisions.

The day concluded with the plenary panel “Conflict in Public Space — Sources, Dynamics, Possibilities.” Experts emphasised that well-managed conflict reveals genuine social needs and leads to more durable solutions.

Day 3: Transferring Knowledge to Transport Practice

The third day focused on applying knowledge to specific transport projects and building a lasting network of cooperation.

The workshop “Transferring Experience to Transport and Infrastructure” was conducted using the World Café method — rotating discussions at thematic tables. Conversations covered topics including adapting participatory methods to road and rail projects, the specific nature of infrastructure conflicts, and civic education in the transport sector.

Participants noted that residents accept even difficult infrastructure decisions — provided they feel a genuine sense of influence and understand the long-term benefits of the investment.

The day ended with the networking session “Better Together — Network Development Plan,” during which participants mapped their competencies and planned further joint initiatives within the CUPT participation community.

Participation Is Not a Cost – It’s an Investment

The three-day event confirmed one thing above all: public participation is not an add-on to infrastructure projects. It is a condition of their success. Conflict — properly identified and managed — can be a source of better public decisions and more lasting trust between residents and institutions.

The event was prepared and delivered by the public participation team, with overall responsibility held by Krzysztof Rodziewicz. The event was facilitated by Karolina Ptaszyńska, Ewa Paderewska, Maciej Wójcik, Olga Zuchora, Edyta Boratyńska-Karpiej, Piotr Kocjan, and Edyta Jaszczuk, with support from Agata Sobczyk and Jolanta Belka.

CUPT will continue its efforts to build a culture of participation in Poland’s transport and infrastructure sector.