1 Conference European Civic Forum «A Plan C for Europe» European Framework for Promoting Active Citizenship Joachim Ott EUROPEAN COMMISSION, DG Communication Citizens’ Policy Unit

2 Broader concept of European citzenship What is Citizenship? Union citizenship Title II TEU / Part II TFEU Nationals of EU27 Representative democracy No legal definition All people living in the EU Participatory democracy

3 3 dimensions of citizenship Legal Dimension Societal dimension Value- Based Dimension

Strategic Triangle Securing rights and providing information on rights Meeting challenges and providing deliverables for citizens’ needs Giving opportunities for civic participation The Basis of the Policy Concept Overall objective?Sense of belonging to the EU

5 Being an Citizen “Reality Check” Knowledge and capacity Emotional aspects The “role model” is the informed citizen who is able to express his or her needs, enjoy his or her rights and who is willing to contribute to the common good through engagement in both representative and participatory democracy Active!

6 Tasks of a European Citizens’ Policy Overcoming negative perceptions towards the EU and strengthening legitimacy Delivering on the strategic triangle of individual rights needs and deliverables civic participation Encouraging citizens’ participation in elections, public debate, through volunteering complementing representative democracy Creating ownership and belonging to the EU Empowering citizens and NGOs to engage in constructive bottom-up debates

7 Deliverables of Citizens’ Policy “Europe for citizens” program Budget : € 215 M 4 actions – more than 1,300 projects/year Beneficiaries: local/regional authorities, civil society, remembrance organizations EU27, EFTA, some candidate countries and potential candidates (HR, fyRoM, AL) EACEA for program management Program committee (Member States) Structured Dialogue Over 70 NGOs, think tanks, networks debates in plenary and working groups on policy and program development European Year on Volunteering 2011 Implemented in the Member States and at EU level Cooperation with the Volunteering sector Themes Future of the EU and its values Active European citizenship Intercultural dialogue People’s well being Impact of EU policies on society

8 The “Europe for Citizens” Program Action 1 Bringing people together … town twinning (citizens’ meetings, networking) Citizens’ projects, support measures, mobility > 45% of total budget Action 2 Reflection and debate on Europe … Support to think tanks Operational grants to EU-level CSOs Support to transnational projects Ca. 31% of total budget Action 3 Visible Europe … High visibility events Studies, surveys, opinion polls Information and dissemination tools Ca. 10% of total budget Action 4 Remember the past, build the future … Sites and memorials of Nazis' and Stalinist crimes Archives documenting these crimes Memory of victims Memory of those who rescued people Ca. 4% of total budget

9 Future Challenges for Citizens’ Policy Successfu l impleme ntation of “Europe for citizens” program until 2013 Contin uation of progra m and adapta tion to new needs Translation of Art EU Treaty into practical working patterns Support for emergence of a true European public space and debate “Europeanization” of public discourse and connection of citizenship debate with structural policies Dissemin ation and valorisati on of successfu l projects