Collecchio, 16-19 September 2016 WITHEU project Collecchio, 16-19 September 2016

PARTNERSHIP A NETWORK OF EUROPEAN PARTNERS…. BUTZBACH (DE) Town twinned FONTANELLATO (IT) COLLECCHIO (IT) Town twinned SERN LIIVERI (FI) WELLS (UK) FALKOPING (SE) CAMARINAS (ES) EU projects BUZET (HR)

PROJECT BACKGROUND European Union is facing a very challenging phase from social, cultural, political and economic points of view owing to global economic difficulties the national ways to approach the immigration issue the high rate of unemployment above all for young people the development of Eurosceptic parties and governments in various member states

NEEDS TO BE APPROACHED 1.How would be a day without the rights offered and guaranteed by the EU to the European citizens? 2. How is it possible to let citizens understand European policies which touched them directly? 3. How is it possible to increase the level of ownership among citizens and increase the perception to have a bottom-up vision and not a top-down one?

OBJECTIVES DISCUSS ABOUT EUROSCEPTICISM AND IDEAS ON TOOLS TO FIGHT IT IN A BOTTOM-UP PERSPECTIVES To increase the knowledge on EU policies and opportunities; To find methods to develop a sense of ownership to the EU for citizens; To improve the participation of citizens in the European civic society through town twinning relations and transnational exchanges; Networking among partners for future activities

ACTIVITIES A conference with experts and presentation of experiences from partnering countries focused on the debate on Euroscepticism A European market where it is possible for citizens to know other European Municipalities and traditions Information for young people and students about EU programmes

EUROPEAN ADDED VALUE The European dimension can be found in two project perspectives: - A large and assorted European partnership, 7 European countries with old and new member states with a North – South and East-West dimension and with partners who represent different social traditions and civic participation in the social life. - The theme of the project itself which represents an open and today issue at European level in order to create a deep link between citizens and their participation in civic democratic life fighting against euroscepticism.

PROJECT TARGET GROUP - Public authorities: the increased knowledge on the theme of EU policies will increase the political commitment in spreading information and in supporting international activities as priority in the political agenda; - Young people: the increased knowledge will open their mind and push them in approaching a European experience in their work or study context; - General public: the increased knowledge, through concrete activities as study visits or the European market of typical products, will increase their interest in the EU in a "bottom-up" perspective

EXPECTED RESULTS The increased political commitment, the improved participation of young people in EU programmes the increased knowledge for citizens about EU policies and programmes develop in a mid-long term the civic active participation and the sense of ownership to the EU fighting at same time against Euroscepticism.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION and ENJOY THE CONFERENCE! Laura avanzi Sern secretariat