Participation For Inclusion – PARFIN | Romania

Participation for Inclusion – PARFIN

Dates: 13-24 October 2014

Venue: Valcea, Romania

Organizer NGO:  Asociatia Tinerilor Rromi Valcea

Participation for Inclusion – PARFIN

Aim

The European Commission has designated 2013 the “European Year of Citizens” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the creation of the European Union citizenship. Active citizenship is related to a participatory attitude on the part of its citizens involved in the lives of their communities, and therefore, in democracy, in terms of activity and decision making. However, this highlights the disconnect between citizens and EU institutions as well as disinterest in politics or the construction process of the European Union, which threatened to leave the citizenship concept meaningless. More palpable is this detachment if we talk about ethnic minorities. The abstention at the polls of this group in the last European elections proves its apathy by the process of European integration. In view of the elections to the European Parliament in 2014, it is essential to implement initiatives that promote ethnic minority citizens’ opinions, views and claims in relation to the effectively construction process of the EU, and they themselves can propose effective measures to stay informed and interested in communicating Europe and European identity. In a changing Europe, with ethnic minorities as a growing reality, it is important to strengthen its presence and link up with the idea of active European citizenship.

The project was carried on in six EU countries and it is a multilateral exchange project whose activity will be held for 11 days in Valcea, Romania. The implementation of the project will involve six countries: Romania, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, and Latvia with a total of 50 participants+10 leaders.

Objectives

– To promote social inclusion through the active participation of minorities in society.

-Consolidate approaches to stimulate interaction and active discussion of certain areas of European policy affecting their daily lives.

-Increase dialogue between citizens and institutions, involving the European population in EU policies and their impact.

-Get a new boost of the European citizenship concept.

-Ensure proper management of the views of minorities by the EU.

-Bridging the gap between citizens and the European Union.   

-Explore ways to promote the participation of citizens in European affairs, and especially in the European Parliament elections of 2014.

These activities will be implemented through a series of non-formal education methods as: debate, workshops, structured dialogue, open space, public café, photo-voice.

The project was funded by the European Commission.

 

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