We are Europe. Empowering civil society for a citizens Europe

Read here the Final Report send to EU Commission LINK

The “We are Europe Academy” is a training event for civil society activists organized by the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and the European Citizens Action Service (ECAS) in the context of the We are Europe project supported by the European Commission’s Europe for Citizens program.

The Academy will help activists from civil society organisations to develop their practical skills on political communication, campaigning, citizen engagement, grass-roots campaigning and organisation building to better prepare themselves to be active participants in the ongoing debate on the future of Europe, particularly in the run up to the European elections, and in the public debate against raising nationalism.

The program of the Academy includes:

Three Awareness Raising Sessions were critical European issues are presented and discussed with a format contrasting opposing opinions. Focus will be on “Our Money”, “Our Security” and “Our Democracy”.
Three rounds of mine Workshops on practical matters (on subjects related to political communication, citizens engagement and grass-root campaigning).
Practical Projects in small groups to develop and execute a plan applying the learnings from the event to different types of activities for different type of civil society organisations.

Particular focus will be how to apply the knowledge and skills during the run up to the European Parliament elections in May 2019.

FOLDER

FOLLOW UP DOCUMENTS

EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 2019 CAMPAIGN: THIS TIME I'M VOTING

WORKSHOPS ON POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

WORKSHOPS ON CITIZENS' ENGAGEMENT

WORKSHOPS ON TOOLS FOR NON-PARTY ACTORS IN ELECTORAL PERIOD

PICTURES

Vienna, November 23rd 2018 | The "We are Europe: Civil Society Meet-Up" is a participatory policy-oriented seminar within the frame of the We are Europe project co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Commission.

The "We are Europe: Civil Society Meet-Up" is conceived to provide civil society organizations with a chance to share your main priorities in specific fields with other organisations, forge a common view on the main challenges facing civil society in Europe and build long-term solid partnerships with like-minded stakeholders.

Civil Society Meet-Up aims at fostering European citizenship and improving conditions for civic and democratic participation in the future of Europe debate, to create a space of expression for the civil society.

The Civil Society Meet-Up agenda will be shaped by the participants of the event by preceding online consultation in order to meet at best their interests and expectations.

The programme includes:

Plenary session debate, focusing on the challenges faced by the civil society in the context of growing populism in Europe "Populism and nationalism in Europe today: causes, trends, impact on European integration."
Voices from the grassroots: Testimonies from pro-European civil society actors operating in politically hostile environments in different countries - sharing best practices.
Public debate “Sovereign again trough Europe” organized together with The Spinelli Group, in cooperation with UEF Austria and Europe Direct.

Particular focus will be put on how to foster civil society role as an active player in the run up to the European Parliament elections in May 2019 and in the debate on the Future of Europe.

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PICTURES

Citizens’ Agora is a public political debate co-organised by “We are Europe” partners UEF, UEF Hungary, JEF and The Spinelli Group.
In the context of raising populism in Europe, where civil society actors operate in hostile political environments, when democracy and rule of law are endangered, and three months prior the European Parliament elections, the We are Europe Citizens' Agora in Budapest aims to stimulate and organise a reflection and debate on the future of Europe involving civil society actors and political representatives from European Union member states and in particular those from the Visegrad countries.
The Agora allows European citizens to address crucial topics in this particular context, such as future and challenges of democracy and Rule of Law in Europe as well as the Visegrad prospective on the future of Europe debate.

Read here the FOLDER about event and speakers

Three months from the European Parliament elections and in the context of raising populism in Europe, the We are Europe Agora in Budapest aims to stimulate and organise a reflection on the challenges for democracy and rule of law and their impact on the debate on the future of Europe involving political representatives and civil society actors from European Union member states and particular from the Visegrad countries.

The event will start on Friday 22nd of February late afternoon with a public political debate with members of the European Parliament from The Spinelli Group, local politicians and civil society from Hungary and other Visegrad-Group countries. It will continue on Saturday in the form of seminar with experts, academics and representatives of civil society organisations.

Fifty participants from all over Europe will join the local participants from Hungary.

The event includes the sessions on:

Towards the European Parliament elections: what is at stake for Hungary and for Europe?
Democracy and rule of law: European trends and the Central European perspective”
Hungary 15 years after the European Union accession: perspectives on Europe and challenges for democracy and rule of law
Scenarios for the Visegrad Countries and their impact on the future of Europe/ between national and European Sovereignty
What can the European Union do for the Democracy and Rule of Law across Europe?
UEF Political Commission meetings

FOLLOW-UP DOCUMENTS

Our second Citizen’s Agora in the framework of the “We are Europe” project is taking place in Barcelona on 26^th of April 2019 at ESCI-UPF School of International Studies.

This event is organised in cooperation with garageERASMUS, Young European Federalists, Federalistes d’Esquerres and with the support of the European Commission programme Europe for Citizens and ESCI-UPF School of International Studies.

The Agora promotes societal engagement within the debate on the Future of Europe. It will allow you to address crucial topics such as future, challenges of democracy in Europe and the insight of local – national and European perspective on the future of Europe debate. Building on a strong coalition of civil society organisation, citizens and network of political stakeholders and regional authorities the Citizens’ Agora aims to encourage and strengthen European-oriented citizen participation to the European Parliament Elections 2019.

The European Parliament elections in May 2019 will see a crucial confrontation between opposite visions for the future of Europe. Nationalists and populists are on the rise across Europe and are trying to dismantle the achievements of the European project and hinder any further step forward. The “I choose Europe” campaign calls citizens who believe in the European unity to come out and vote, to speak up for the Europe they want, expressing their choice for a Strong, Democratic, Social and Federal Europe.

Citizens' Agora event will be followed by the "I choose Europe" evening. It will offer you the possibility to enjoy convivial moment with people from all around Europe, exchange with Civil Society Organisations present and on their projects for Europe, while having some drinks, snacks and enjoying live music.

PICTURES

The history of the European Union is one of citizens gathering and calling on elected leaders for more decisive steps towards political unity for the European people: in 1975 in Rome claiming for the direct elections of the European Parliament; in 1979 in Strasbourg asking for a European currency; in 1985 in Milano defending The Spinelli Treaty, in 1991 in Maastricht for European democracy, in 2000 in Nice asking for a European Convention, on 25 March 2017 in Rome calling for a relaunch of political integration.

Today, simply celebrating the EU and its achievements is not enough anymore. Our continent is in dire need of common solutions underpinned by genuine European democracy. This July 1-2 in Strasbourg, at the opening plenary session of the European Parliament, we will again call on our elected representatives to choose Europe, wholeheartedly and without reservations. This July, we must take up the challenge of creating a genuine, European democracy - or risk having no democracy at all.

Link here more info

The Academy will help activists from civil society organisations to develop their practical skills – particularly on Citizens Advocacy and Citizens Engagement - to better prepare themselves to be active participants in the ongoing debate on the future of Europe, particularly in aftermath of the European elections.

The event consists of two half days. One on the challenges facing the new European Parliament and the new European Commission and the policy expectations of citizens and civil society. One on practical skills for Citizens Advocacy and Citizens Engagement, addressing topics related to citizens' influence on national and European decision-makers.

VIDEO from SANDRO GOZI

Interaction and the exchange of ideas and experiences is encouraged – participants will learn from one another as well as from expert speakers and facilitators.

FOLLOW-UP FOLDER

WEBINAR PRESENTATIONS

Gender-Balanced Activities

Liberating Structures

Fighting global warming and climate change is a key challenge for the European Union. An increasing number of Europeans are deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change and the lack of political consensus to take an action. Green parties in various countries celebrated big gains in European elections amid growing voter concerns over climate change. Nevertheless, the competences, powers and resources of the European Union to act and make a radical change in Europe and in the world in this field are limited. Building a united, democratic and sovereign Europe and saving the planet are more and more two faces of the same coin, a common challenge and a common mission.

In this week-end seminar in Vilnius we will discuss from various angles the deep connection between advancing European integration and fighting climate change at European and global level.

FOLLOW-UP DOCUMENTS

FOLLOW-UP FOLDER

PRESENTATIONS

Federalism & Climate change by Domènec Ruiz Devesa
The costs of Climate Policies by Karima Oustadi
Climate Summit visual by Martynas Nagevičius
Climate-Finance Pact
What is the EU doing on Climate Change by Eva Lichtenberger
EU, Climate and Security by Wolfgang Wettach
How can Europe lead the World against climate change by CONCITO
Civil society in the fight against climate change by Pauline Gessant
EU Climate Action

PICTURES

“We are Europe” initiative, co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union, is aimed at supporting the development and work of civil society organisations across Europe.

Building on their long training experience, the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) have got together to offer a complete scheme of activities specifically designed to help citizens’ organisations build up their capabilities and cooperate with one another across borders to engage themselves and their members in the debate on the future of Europe.

The main focus of the We are Europe programme is to help other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) reinforce their organisation’s practical skills in the fields of political communication, lobbying, membership growth, network consolidation or policy development to better prepare themselves to be active participants in the ongoing debate on the future of Europe, particularly in the run up to the European elections.

With the European elections approaching fast and the threat of nationalism and populism, the work of CSOs across Europe is more important than ever. CSOs are key in the development of a sound European democracy, which will be the only response possible to the shift towards national retreat and xenophobia.

Activities

In the period going from October 2018 until December 2019, organisations participating in the “We are Europe” scheme will be able to take part in the following initiatives:

1. European Academies: high-quality skills-based training by experienced practitioners from the world of European civil society, conceived to ensure top level of exchange and interaction. Their format will be based on cooperative methods of deliberation and include simulations.

2. European Civil Society Meet-Ups: participatory policy-oriented seminars conceived to provide CSOs with a chance to share their main priorities in specific fields with other organisations, forge a common view on the main challenges facing civil society in Europe and build long-term solid partnerships with like-minded stakeholders.

3. Citizens Agorae: participatory and citizens-oriented public events co-organised by UEF and CSOs participating in the We are Europe Academies and European Meet-Ups in main European cities. The organisation of such events aims at consolidating the participating organisations’ skills, offering them political visibility and reinforcing cross-border partnerships.

Partners

Union of European Federalists
ECAS
The Spinelli Group
UEF Bulgaria
UEF France
UEF Austria
Movimento Federalista Europeo - UEF Italy
UEF Lithuania
UEF Spain