This project (http://citizenactivators.eu )  intends to establish contact between 'facilities for citizens', mentors (citizen activators)  and decision makers, to promote exchange concerning the various (methodical) approaches and practical experiences and to work out the structure for the sustained establishment of a competence network dealing with the subject of "citizens' participation and  development". In addition to that an overview of facilities in the area of citizen activators work (internet - data pool) will be given.

The project presents a set of activities that grants citizens the chance to interact - both at the local and at the European level - and offers them the occasion to "work" together towards a common aim. It represents an unbiased platform where citizens and other stakeholders gather information (with a bottom-up approach), debate, collect individual and collective opinions, formulate their views (duly guided and supported).


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European e-Justice, necessary rights protection choice for every European citizen
Mrs. Anelia Mincheva, Speech at EFCA Conference, October 2012

Freedom of movement for people, goods, services and capital is called “four freedoms”. As long as European area is growing more and more each year, this term “four freedoms” require a new understanding - an area without borders. With the introduction of this trend comes the urgent need to protect the newly established legal relationships directly related to European citizens, for whom efficient and fast protection is primarily goal. In this area without borders appear demand justice and security, as well as the need to develop speed and volume of judicial procedures of the various national legal systems, which can be achieved through the introduction of Justice without borders. Solution to achieve those problems is cross-border European e-Justice its introduction, development and recognition.

The task of this work is to inform European citizens about the existence of the European e-Justice. To explain what it means and to make a brief survey what is made until now. Also this paper presents some major legal and justice EU projects, such as: the European e-Justice portal and "e-CODEX" project (2010 - 2013) etc. Attention is also drawn to the need of a relationship between European e-Justice and European citizenship.

Some of the possible ways in which European citizenship can be included, and they are:

·         Participate in pilot projects for testing, using real-life cases supplied by European citizens

·         Develop a network information system for EU citizens

·         Expanding the scope depending on the needs of EU citizens

·         Provide ideas, recommendations, reviews of the development of European e-Justice and its application

·         Collaboration with other areas

As a final result European e-Justice can be used as a modern and necessary choice for protection of the rights of every European citizen.

 

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Establishing of the European Federation of Citizen Activators:  Networking the citizens’ panels

 

Sofia, 13^th October 2012

DEKLARATION of citizen activators active in Europe

 

 

WE,

 

·      the representatives of  organisations committed to the improvement of the knowledge in the field of citizens’ participation and  development;

·      present at a conference “UNDERSTANDING CITIZENSHIP” in Sofia  on October 13^th , 2012;

 

 

WELCOME the activities that grant citizens the chance to interact – both at the local and at the European level.

 

 

 

STATE THAT:

 

·      Further efforts should be put into raising awareness, reflection and debate on the relevance and implications of EU policies on citizens' daily lives and in removing the remaining obstacles that EU citizens still face.

 

·      Citizens' engagement with issues which constitute the European Union's political priorities is a key element of civic participation. Citizens' engagement and participation is especially important in an economically challenging context.

 

·      Networking  between ‘facilities for citizens’, mentors (citizen activators)  and decision makers is essential to  promote exchange concerning the various (methodical) approaches and practical experiences and to work out the structure for the sustained establishment of a competence network dealing with the subject of “citizens’ participation and  development”.

 

RECOMMEND:

 

The creation of a European Federation of Citizen Activators

 

·   The European Federation of Citizen Activators would promote decentralised cooperation as a tool for sustainable partnership between local authorities and civil society organisations at local level and would show the complementarities of these structures for developing successful European and international initiatives and facilitate citizens' involvement at local level.

 

·         The European Federation of Citizen Activators would promote the added value of town twinning in time of economic and political crisis as a tool for territory development, a way to create synergies and new opportunities for local actors (economic, associative, etc) from involved territories.

 

·         Such a network would present opportunities offered by the Europe for Citizens Programme to make citizens and public institutions closer and to combat the crisis of representative democracy in Europe. A special focus will be put on initiatives aiming at involving disadvantaged and marginalized groups, who are not used to participate to their local communities.

 

 

·   Such a network would exchange information about the European citizens' initiative as a new tool in hands of European citizens (legislative framework, aim, procedure, strength and weakness, etc) and to debate on the ways and means for this tool to contribute to build a European active citizenship.

 

·     The European Federation of Citizen Activators would promote the added value of volunteering as a tool for taking up the challenges faced by Europe, such as unemployment, social isolation and lack of citizens' participation as well as ways for local authorities and civil society organizations to encourage it.