This policy brief explores how Ethical and Legal Impact Assessments (ELIAs) can be enhanced through citizen participation to ensure that emerging technologies — including AI systems and digital infrastructures — are developed and deployed responsibly. It highlights actionable pathways for policymakers, researchers, and innovators to embed ethics and legal foresight into technological design, while engaging the public as co-creators of trustworthy innovation. By combining insights from recent EU-funded research (including the TITAN project) and real-world policy practices, the brief identifies barriers to meaningful participation, proposes frameworks for integrating citizens into assessment processes, and outlines recommendations for policymakers aiming to strengthen public trust and democratic accountability in technology governance. Why read it: Understand how ethical and legal assessments can move beyond compliance to foster societal trust. Discover practical models for involving citizens in the design and evaluation of emerging technologies. Gain evidence-based recommendations for policy and governance frameworks that balance innovation with rights, values, and accountability. Ideal for: policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and anyone shaping the responsible digital future of Europe.