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Following a recent proposal from the European Commission, Year 2013 is likely to be declared the European Year of Citizens to mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of European citizenship (Maastricht Treaty).
Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) has taken the initiative to bring a specific contribution to the debate on citizenship and its relevance for the future of Europe.
The project in a nutshell
Democracy in Europe seems to suffer from a lack of enthusiasm amongst its population and a growing lack of trust towards elected political leaders against the background of an increasingly multicultural society and a growing sense of insecurity giving rise to renewed nationalism. The Council of Europe has been dealing with those issues for several years.
The EU itself is at a critical juncture. It is often argued that there is a lack of information triggering among citizens a climate of estrangement towards the EU and its complex policy-making process.
We argue that there is not a lack of information, but of formation, followed by a lack of interest among citizens and a reluctance to engage in society or participate in political life.
Therefore, there is not only a need, but also scope, for critical reflection on “Education and Active Citizenship in the European Context”, following the efforts already made by the Council of Europe and various bodies in the EU.
The objective of the project is to provide EU-wide institutions and actors of the civil society with a specific contribution to the debate on citizenship and its relevance for the future of Europe.
This will take the form of an academic memorandum and experienced-based contributions from engaged citizens at all levels in the society drawing lessons from the education they received.
The academic memorandum will be presented separately at an academic conference in January 2013 (venue to be confirmed).
An integrated synthesis of the contributions from both strands and a set of targeted Recommendations for European-wide institutions and actors of the civil society will be presented at a high-level conference organised in Brussels in June 2013 in the framework of the – still to be formally approved – European Year of Citizens.
Other actors from the civil society are welcome to join.
Brussels, 9th September 2011
Frank Delmartino
Laurent Grégoire
Hervé Pierre Guillot SJ
