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ALL.4.EU:Citizens for Europe!
CITIZENS' PANELSREPORTS OUTCOMES
ALL.4.EU:Citizens for Europe!
On 7th and 8th of July 2009, project partners and representatives from all citizens’ panelsmet in Sofia (Bulgaria) in order to present the first results of their local activities and toelaborate common opinions and recommendations through the constitution of a transnationalcitizens’ panel. The panel discussions showed a general lack of an effective and interactiveinstitutional communication network with citizens, as also a lack of culture of listening andrespecting the voice of youth.A lack of tradition and reduced stimulation of citizens in building a democratic societyhas been individuated as the actually new challenge for the Istria Region and the wholeCroatian society on the way to Europe during the panel discussion on
Youth Activism in Istria on the way to the EU
held on June 3rd 2009 in Pazin (Croatia) by the Region of Istria and theFoundation for Civil Society Development.The first “1-day event”, the
Europe for citizens: Promotion of Active European Citizenship
was organized on May 14th 2009 in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) by the Balkan AssistAssociation, supported by local partners organizations as Centre for European Initiatives andMunicipality of Razgrad.The key aspects of European citizenship were discussed with thesupport of local authorities and the curiosity of the media.The Municipality of Vejle set the
EU-citizens' panel
on May 28
th
2009 in Bygningen(Denmark), in a public town building, where the ALL.4.EU was introduced to the participantsthrough the use of the open space methodology and an asset based approach in order tomake participants the “owners” of the citizen’s panel. Panels activators gave to theparticipants useful information introducing them to the project ALL.4.EU, as well as to the EUfunding programs such as Youth Program and Europe for Citizens Program. So theparticipants felt the project as an opportunity to express their concerns and doubts regardingthe European Union in general. The creation of a valuable network is the result of another“1day event” held on June 11
th
2009, the
EU-citizens' panel – ALL.4.EU
, the second meetingorganized by the same municipality. It took place at the Vejle Business College in order tocontinue and elaborate the debate that had been initiated on the first meeting.As a matter of fact, during the
ALL.4.EU Public Seminar,
held on May 30th 2009 inValletta (Malta) by the Local Councils’ Association, the participants wondered how can NGOsparticipate in an EU funded project; how can schools and students get involved in; how can acitizen complain about an environmental issue within the EU institutions and what is the EUdoing in the field of the air pollution; if there are projects for people over the age of 30 yearsold and if pensioners can participate in some EU projects.During the
Workshop “Citizens for Europe: To promote an active citizenship” – Set-up of Local Citizens’ Panels
, organized in Arquà Polesine – Rovigo (Italy) on June 11th 2009 bythe Consortium for Development of Polesine (CONSVIPO) and supported by local partnerorganizations as Municipalities of Rovigo, Taglio di Po, Polesella, Bosaro, Arquà Polesineand Ceregnano, from the Province of Rovigo and some secondary schools. The workinggroups, where participants were involved by three local networks, gave a definition ofparticipation and active citizenship defining possible tools to increase it and stimulaterelationships among citizens and institutions. Participants collected needs, proposal andlimits about the active citizenship during a second meeting,
The Active citizens - Research activity at the local level and preparation of the international meeting
, organized by
ALL.4.EU:Citizens for Europe!
CONSVIPO with the support of the Municipality of Rovigo and local secondary schools,realized on June 25
th
2009 in the Grandi Fiumi Museum of Rovigo.In Zvolen (Slovakia) was held on May 26
th
2009 the panel titled
Europe for us, we for Europe
organized from the Center for community organizing in cooperation with theCitizens Initiatives Zvolen – Zapad. Despite some doubts at the beginning of the panelpreparation about willingness of citizens to participate, organizers and activators had beenpositively surprised about the number of participants and quality of discussion. This last wasfocused in raising awareness about the importance of actively participating in theconstruction of Europe, special in participating on European Parliament elections. Thepanel resulted with an increased interest of EU issues among young people, an greaterwillingness for citizens cooperation and participation.Below some information about each panel theme, aims, target, methods and conclusions.
Citizens’ Panels in Bulgaria
"Europe for citizens: Promotion of Active EuropeanCitizenship "
Date and time 14 May 2009; Place Stara Zagora,BulgariaOrganization in chargeBalkan Assist AssociationLocal partnersorganizations
Centre for European Initiatives
Municipality of RazgradDescription of the modules (aims, target groups,methodology…)
Aims:
General:
to encourage the participation at the local level
to raise awareness about the importance of activelyparticipating in the construction of Europe
to provide first relevant information on the topic to beaddressedSpecific:
Getting to know the concrete rights of being a EU citizen
Clarifying of the way in which the big EU “machine” works
Suggesting ways of finding partners in EU
Giving ideas of where and how to search for funding for citizens’ initiatives
Target groups:
Citizens, especially those who would not have spontaneouslyparticipated in projects of a European nature, paying attentionto involve people of different demographic, social andprofessional background
Young people
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