The participation of citizens in decision-making process at the local level is a prerequisite
for the existence of a democratic society. The importance of local producers' involvement
in this process is significant because they contribute to the development of the local
community and improve its living conditions. The authors deal with the questions of
how the local producers in the Veszprém County and the Balaton Region are familiar
with these rights, to what extent they use them and what the obstacles for citizen
participation in public life at the local level are. In order to examine the whole
problem, the survey also includes the representatives of local authorities. This research
consists of three parts. After introduction and legislative review, in the second
part the results of the survey are presented. The combination of theoretical analysis
and empirical research that is characteristic for social sciences is used. Finally,
in the last part, recommendations for the improvement of the participation of local
citizens in creating the public policies at the local level in the mentioned region
are presented.
