Chapter 6: European Commission: Leading Diversity by Dialogue

Dialogue holds a crucial place in European Union (EU) governance and civil society. This chapter addresses how and under what conditions leaders of the EU Commission implement dialogue with civil society organizations. First, a short description is provided of the major constituents who play a role in the EU’s legislative process. Key elements of the dialogical process and dialogical leadership are also explored, as well as how civil servants apply dialogical thinking to the drafting of legislation. Next, we describe how one of the European commissioners, Margrethe Vestager, manages to create conditions for dialogue for civil society and for her own people. Finally, some conclusions and recommendations are given for further considertion as we also ask what we can hope to learn from the EU about dialogical leadership?