We asked Mr Francis Whyte from DG Communication some comments and impressions about the Conference "Future of Europe: The Citizens' Agenda" and about ourWe asked Mr Francis Whyte from DG Communication some comments and impressions about the Conference "Future of Europe: The Citizens' Agenda" and about our project "Radio Web Europe". He says that people have had the chance to express their feelings and that there has been a genuine citizens' participation. The European Commission in the next wave of Plan D projects will develop the internet component and will adopt an internet strategy very soon, so he thinks that Radio Web Europe has been a very interesting project because it opened the way for the development of citizens' participation on the internet.(more)(less)
Pat Cox, Former President of the European Parliament, was the moderator of the Conference "Future of Europe: the citizens' agenda". He says to Radio WebPat Cox, Former President of the European Parliament, was the moderator of the Conference "Future of Europe: the citizens' agenda". He says to Radio Web Europe that it has been wonderful to meet people from many different backgrounds, countries and age groups. He thinks that an important step has been taken: for the first time, in a very deliberate way, the EU institutions went out to find its Europeans and the Europeans responded. And it is a big message for the future.
http://www.radiowebeurope.eu/uk/news/record.php?tit=Active-Citizenship-Open-Letter-Recommendations&id=131(more)(less)
Debbie Croucher, facilitator of the RWE UK workshops and focus groups, reflects on the experience of RWE in the UK. We tried to find effective ways toDebbie Croucher, facilitator of the RWE UK workshops and focus groups, reflects on the experience of RWE in the UK. We tried to find effective ways to engage with young people in the EU, to create a better understanding about the EU and the involvement of young people in its future. We talked to young people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities; to community organisations which already involve young people a lot; and to local decision makers, who want to get young people more involved and encourage them to speak up. We wanted to involve young people with disabilities; they identified some key issues, in particular the need for better, and more accessible, communication. There’s a huge agenda around social inclusion – but if we want to be truly inclusive we have to find ways of involving young people who are hard to reach. Ultimately we are talking about citizenship for all young people. We still have more questions than answers, but we hope that this project is the start of a process, not the end…..(more)(less)
Andrew, a postgraduate student at Oxford University, says that illegal immigration should be an issue for each member state to tackle; but he is very concernedAndrew, a postgraduate student at Oxford University, says that illegal immigration should be an issue for each member state to tackle; but he is very concerned about racism, which seems to be prevalent across the EU and growing. He thinks that the EU should impose economic sanctions, or reduce subsidies, for member states who are failing to tackle this problem effectively and make things change. Andrew says that everyone has a role in promoting equality, but the EU is well placed logistically to tackle the issue; but he sceptical about campaigns like the European Year of Anti-Racism – he thinks that money is far better spent funding organisations like charities which are trying to tackle the problem of racism ‘on the ground’.(more)(less)
In order to increase youth participation in the debate on European issues, says Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, European identityIn order to increase youth participation in the debate on European issues, says Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, European identity of young people should be strengthened. Some concrete proposals: investing in education to make a structural change of the educational paths and increasing civil service experiences abroad.
The other parts of the interview are available in the section "Multimedia".
Per aumentare la partecipazione dei giovani sui temi europei, dice Vilma Mazzocco, portavoce del Forum del Terzo Settore, è necessario innanzitutto rafforzare l'identità europea dei giovani. Alcune proposte concrete: investire nel mondo dell'istruzione per modificare strutturalmente i percorsi di formazione dei giovani, integrandoli con percorsi di educazione civica europea e rafforzare il servizio civile dei giovani italiani in altri paesi europei.
Alla sezione "Multimedia" sono disponibili le altre parti dell'intervista.(more)(less)
Which tools to support the European dimension of civil society organisations? Policies, funding opportunities? It is not only a matter of funding, saysWhich tools to support the European dimension of civil society organisations? Policies, funding opportunities? It is not only a matter of funding, says Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, but it is a matter of political will. Citizens' self-organising in intermediate institutions should be recognised. It is necessary a real commitment in the creation of "think tank" and meeting places with a bottom-up approach.
Quali strumenti per favorire la dimensione europea delle organizzazoni della società civile? Politiche, finanziamenti?
Non è una questione solo di finanziamenti, ci dice Vilma Mazzocco, portavoce del Forum Terzo Settore, ma è un problema di volontà politica. Si dovrebbe riconoscere che i cittadini si auto-organizzano dando vita ad organizzazioni intermedie, ci si dovrebbe impegnare nella creazione di luoghi di pensiero e di incontro, in un processo che parta dal basso.(more)(less)
One of our priorities, says Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, is working in a real European dimension. We would like to build a EuropeanOne of our priorities, says Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, is working in a real European dimension. We would like to build a European network of the Third Sector in order to feed the debate within the civil society.
Una delle nostre priorità, dice Vilma Mazzocco, portavoce del Forum Terzo Settore, è lavorare in una dimensione europea. Vorremmo costruire una rete europea del Terzo Settore per alimentare il dibattito tra la società civile.(more)(less)
Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, says that the EU policies should be addressed to the organisations which represent civil society.Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, says that the EU policies should be addressed to the organisations which represent civil society. The EU should give more value to intermediate institutions, in order to increase also the contact with individual citizens. Unfortunately, she thinks that this aspect has been neglected by the process of constitution of the new EU Treaty.
Vilma Mazzocco, portavoce del Forum Terzo Settore, sostiene che gli interventi dell'UE dovrebbero essere maggiormente diretti alle organizzazioni di rappresentanza della società civile. Più che rivolgersi direttamente ai singoli cittadini, l'UE dovrebbe valorizzare le istituzioni intermedie, così da poter anche ampliare la possibilità di contatto con i cittadini stessi. Tuttavia ritiene che questo aspetto sia stato un po' tralasciato nel processo di costituzione del nuovo Trattato UE.(more)(less)
How to bridge the gap between EU institutions and civil society? In this interview, Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, stresses theHow to bridge the gap between EU institutions and civil society?
In this interview, Vilma Mazzocco, spokeswoman of the Third Sector Forum, stresses the importance of the role of the civil society organisations in building a political thinking about Europe.
Come ridurre le distanze tra le istituzioni UE e la società civile?
In questa intervista, Vilma Mazzocco, portavoce del Forum del Terzo Settore (http://www.forumterzosettore.it), sottolinea l'importanza del ruolo delle organizzazioni della società civile nella costruzione di un pensiero politico sull'Europa.(more)(less)
Italian university students seem to be optimistic about the future of the EU. They think the EU is a big project that can give youth a hope, and ItalyItalian university students seem to be optimistic about the future of the EU. They think the EU is a big project that can give youth a hope, and Italy can take advantage of having good examples to follow. They hope a real union between European citizens and a real integration also in the university field.
I giovani universitari italiani sembrano generalmente ottimisti riguardo al futuro dell'UE, ritengono che sia un progetto che possa dare speranza, soprattutto ai giovani e che l'Italia possa trarre vantaggio dal far parte dell'UE, soprattutto in termini di recepimento di validi modelli. Auspicano però che si realizzi una vera e propria unione tra i popoli ed una maggiore integrazione, anche relativamente al mondo universitario. Soprattuto nelle facoltà scientifiche, ci dicono gli studenti, si respira già un'aria europea, ma è necessario che le normative amministrative e didattiche siano maggiormente concordate a livello europeo e siano più omogenee ed agili.(more)(less)
UK
IT
ES
PT
LT
MT
AT
