Active debate of Citizens: they are the Heritage for the European Future

EUROPE FOR CITIZENS’ PROGRAMME
Strand2: Democratic engagement and civic participation
2.2: Network of Towns

Summary

“Active debate of Citizens: they are the Heritage for the European Future” was a Network of Towns promoted by Union of Municipalities Naxos and Taormina, (IT), with the involvement of partners from 16 Countries (Unione dei Comuni del Comprensorio di Naxos e Taormina (IT), Latvijas Pasvaldibu Savieniba Biedriba LPS (LV), Association of Estonian Cities (EE), Kunsill Lokali Birgu (MT), Gminny Osrodek Kultury Olesnica (PL), Udruga za promicanje aktivnog građanstva – ECHO (HR), Hévízgyörk Község Önkormányzata (HU), Business & Professional Women CR Production, z. ú. (CZ), Federacion de Asociacions Xuvenis para a Mobilidade Europea (ES), Asociatia Sin Fronteras (RO), Institucia Regionalnych Aktivit Novohradu (SK), Sverigeungerska Kvinnoförenid “Sissi” (SE), Municipality of Naxos and Small Cyclades Islands (EL), Junta de Freguesia de Baguim do Monte (PT), Alytaus Kolegija (LT) and Lukovit Municipality (BG)).

It was focused on the annual priorities debating the Future of Europe and challenging against Euroscepticism’s feelings. The general objective of the project was to stimulate citizens to dialogue and to share solutions on the Future of the EU, to which European citizens are called to express their opinion in a very delicate moment for the fate of the EU. On 1 March 2017, the European Commission presented the White Paper on the Future of Europe, outlining the main challenges and opportunities between now until 2025. This is of great value for European society because it concerns the very foundations of the Future of the European peoples. In the “New Strategic Agenda 2019-2024”, the European leaders have equipped themselves with the tools to face the challenges related to the EU future in the next five years. The Thematic Network wanted to be an exercise of participatory democracy, that places citizens at the centre of the debate on the future of Europe, throughout the entire life of the project, in order to reinforce in them the meaning of belonging and defeat feelings of rejection or disinterest in the European institutions.

The project foresees the organization of 5 Meetings in Poland Wroclaw/Olesnica from 7 to 10 October 2021, in Malta Birgu from 26 to 29 January 2022, in Hungary Budapest/Hévízgyörk from 19 to 22 April 2022, in Italy Taormina/Giardini Naxos from 8 to 11 May 2022 and in Czech Republic Prague from 26 to 29 July 2022.

The project involved more than 550 direct and 450 indirect participants. The activities have been scheduled on: Presentation of EU frameworks, analyses, discussion on local impacts and experiences, Thematic Conferences, Interactive workshop, Seminars, Brainstorming, Surveys, Press conferences, Dissemination and Networking for the Future, World Café for the creation of a Policy Paper on “Europe Our Future” output of the project.

Fore more informationa about the project please find attached the project results:

ActivEU Description

Results ActivEU Network of Towns