The effect of Participation in the Development of Local Agenda 21 in the European Union.

The different forms of participation or communication within and between public agencies represent one of the five major features of policy implementation which explain why programs do not turn out the way they are expected to. This paper evaluates the advancements and the effect of the participation of several bodies - citizens, the private sector, other local government departments and other public entities - in the implementation of Local Agenda 21 in European municipalities. Results show that participation by citizens and the involvement of different departments within the municipal government in implementing Local Agenda 21 significantly promote its implementation. However, the promotion of sustainable development through policies or activities by the European Union, the State or other national or supra-administrations are of little relevance.