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The debate has taken off sometimes in a constructive way, sometimes in a destructive one: calling for disintegration, discrimination, the abolishment of acquired rights, nationalism. The recent conict in Ukraine has added another dimension to the debate: peace, stability, security, but also respect of the rule of law and international agreements. Do we want to improve Europe or do we want to give it up? As President Barroso said:
It is important that you meet each other; we have here, for the first time, citizens from 28 Member States. Use this opportunity to meet other Europeans and get the European perspective of the issues you are discussing. Make this a true European public space. You will be able to meet up with the European Commissioners directly. Never before have we had so many of them together in such a dialogue. It is your opportunity to speak up, to give your contribution, to share your solutions for the future of Europe. Let your voice free!
Programme of the day: How are we going to be in dialogue together? Maria Scordialos
Maria presented the journey that we would take together. We would: Create focus groups on 6 key themes Discuss in small groups Share the results Change theme in session 2 if you so wish Summarise the results Identify the main topics for the dialogue with the Commissioners Be in dialogue with the Commissioners Dialogue with President Barroso Each part of the programme will build on the next. We will have debate, discussion and dialogue. Real outputs we will have: Visual map of what we discussed Newsletter Video Spread it!
What has been your experience in your city that made you want to be here and what do you hope for today? Matthieu Kleinschmager
Everyone was invited to talk in pairs with someone they had not met yet: Stand up and share! In Poland there are intense debates about the situation in Ukraine. People see the environment as a peripheral issue to economic issues but we should care rst about the very basics of life. In the Amsterdam dialogue there was too much explanation from the Commissioner politicians should listen more to citizens instead. One in five Europeans has learning diculties it is our duty to give them the educational opportunities they deserve. The national elections and the European elections should take place separately so that only European issues are discussed. 4
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The Citizens Dialogues: What have we discussed so far? Gwenn, Joachim and Lorena
My experience of the Citizens Dialogues: What message would I like to share with citizens at the start of this pan-European Dialogue? - MEP Dagmar Roth-Behrendt
I create legislation for all EU countries. To dialogue with citizens is essential in my work but it is hard as we cannot satisfy everybody. My wish is that you go back home and tell your family and friends: We might not agree with all they do in Brussels but they are us! Share your experience with at least 25 people each - Snowball effect My recommendation to the European Commission: create dialogues more often.
PARALLEL DISCUSSIONS ON THE SIX KEY THEMES FROM THE CITIZENS' DIALOGUES
As European citizens, what about each of these topics is the most important for us?
Everyone was invited to choose a topic from the 6 which were identied as main citizens concerns during the Citizens Dialogues, which took place over the preceding 18 months. In the breakout rooms - and after a short framing by the hosts the citizens had 2 rounds of discussion of 20 minutes each, hosted in mini-caf style in groups of about 5 people. Each conversation built on what had already been said in the previous round. Each session then convened in miniplenary to share the questions that had come up: those questions that would make a difference if addressed by the European Commission but also with our local communities and networks. Participants then clustered questions and voted on the top 3 which, in their opinion, would make the biggest difference. Content experts from the relevant Directorates-General of the European Commission were available in the room to bring their knowledge of the subject and of what the institution is working on in this area. In the afternoon, after putting together in plenary the key ndings on each theme, we created the groups for the session with the European Commissioners. In total, ten Commissioners participated in the conversations with citizens about the topics identied in the morning but also other issues that came up. 6
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I don't mind sharing my money directly with a person in need, without intermediaries. Having institutional and nancial intermediaries was more problematic for me. (participant).
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Key topics discussed with Commissioners Karel De Gucht and Johannes Hahn
Enhancing cross-border cooperation in Europe (fewer national issues, more European /cross-border issues) to achieve deeper integration in Europe (vs. geographical expansion) Making sure that the money is spent where it is most needed! And measuring effects, impacts, return on investment from Europe. Building bridges between the EU & Brussels and citizens () Better communication strategies.
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We need responsible citizens that pro-actively seek information beyond what the national media tell them. (participant).
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Key topics discussed with Commissioners Janez Potonik and Connie Hedegaard We are here to make sure climate change and the environment stay on the policy agenda. If we are smart in Europe we will solve the economic and environmental problems together. Even the eurosceptics recognise that Europe should work together on the environment. The environment is one of the areas in which life is better because of the EU. Working across borders will help us solve our resource dependency.
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Ours was the less popular topic, and I am concerned about this. None of the other topics is relevant if we dont preserve our world and our life. (participant).
How can the EU help to? Keep the environment on the agenda during these times of economic crisis?
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Reduce EU dependency on raw materials and increase its sustainability while reducing waste? Support grass-roots education on the environment and promote responsible citizenship? Encourage businesses to adopt and apply all the good practices and innovative solutions already "out there" throughout Europe?
for the Commission to carry out enquires about problems at national level, such as the breach of fundamental rights. Key topics discussed with Commission VicePresident Viviane Reding and Mayor of Cdiz Tela Martnez Saiz
Our Europe? No them and us We are all Europe There is a democratic deficit, a lack of trust we need to give citizens the opportunity to have their voices heard.
dened in relation to our enemies. It is still a peace project. But this can be fragile and we are grateful to be protected in the EU by an organisation like NATO.
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We need to act more at local level with national, regional and local actors.
Is there a common EU identity?
Are we losing or gaining from building commonality? Should sovereignty make us strong? Our cultural and shared diversities are what make us rich with tolerance and openness.
A trusted politician can solve the problem:
Our cultural and shared diversities are what make us rich with tolerance and openness. (participant).
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This is a rare commodity these days, but people still look to politicians to x it.
The EU is dened by its coming together against war as a peace project. We are not
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How can awareness about consumer policy be ensured all over Europe?
Active citizenship and participation: Can the EU promote bottom up participation? Key topics discussed with Commissioners Androulla Vassiliou and Lszl Andor We need to promote a pan-European education and identity We should work to reduce the gap between schools and the job market. Education does not respond to the job needs. Active citizenship and participation People should feel more European. How?
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Communication needs to be improved. People need to know about the EUs added value. (participant).
Health promotion
In schools Cross-border healthcare
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What is the added value of the EU for the daily life of European consumers? How can we avoid wasting our resources and use our own local resources instead of importing them from outside? Key topics discussed with Commissioner Neven Mimica How can healthy food be better promoted? Focus on school online classroom/school available for teachers? How can the level of consumer safety for EU citizens be ensured during the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership?
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Let's teach European history and open it up to dierent approaches. (teacher from Finland).
How can we make stronger connections between employers and universities? Can Europe make the connection between those sectors that can match well? How can we motivate young people to change attitudes from passive to active regarding employment and life balance? 11
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DIALOGUE WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JOS MANUEL BARROSO FUTURE OF THE UNION
Dont turn your back to Europe: engage, debate, propose your ideas!President Jos Manuel Barroso
After 50 dialogues held in all EU Member States, on 27 March the European Commission invited over 150 citizens from all the previous events to Brussels for a Pan-European debate. President Jos Manuel Barrosos closing dialogue was devoted to the Future of Europe. We have constructed something very precious, he said. Lets not destroy it. Dont turn your back to Europe; make Europe better through democratic debate and participation. President Barroso said in his opening remarks: While people around the world are looking to Europe as inspiration, [] in Europe there is pessimism. There are many citizens that do not trust our project. [] I think there is an issue here about engagement with the citizens, to have a real panEuropean dialogue to avoid prejudices, to avoid stereotypes, to avoid what some extremists are saying, that Europe is the cause of the problem and not part of the solution. [] Thats why I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters with you. Asked by a Cypriot citizen about the need for deeper integration in the EU, President Barroso agreed that a shared currency requires a political union. However, he said that some Member States are not ready for this change yet. We cannot force a country who does not want to be in a political union to be in one. But we should avoid building new barriers, he said. The economic crisis and the future of young people were very present throughout the debate. President Barroso mentioned some of the solutions put in place by the EU, such as the Youth Employment Initiative, with Euro 6 billion of funding over a period of seven years. But these are not definitive solutions. We need to come back to growth that is sustainable, not based on debt. He also stressed that Europe is above all about solidarity, and that the Union should ght inequalities between countries, communities and generations. 12 One Polish citizen asked why the EU had not yet promised future membership to Ukraine. President Barroso explained that Ukraine is not ready to join the EU and the EU is not ready to integrate Ukraine either. We offered an association agreement that was signed last week, but the door is not closed to full accession in the future, he said. President Barrosos Citizens Dialogue on the future of Europe closed a one day event where citizens from all over Europe discussed with ten Commissioners and other European and local politicians about the recovery from the economic crisis, citizens rights, the environment and climate change, consumer protection and employment, among other topics. The Pan-European Citizens Dialogue was the culmination of a series of over 50 debates in all 28 Member States with more than 16 000 participants. Since September 2012, President Jos Manuel Barroso and practically all Members of the European Commission have been holding discussions with citizens from all walks of life.
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Hope Justice Utopisch Cultura Pravda Unione Responsabilitate Razem Visione Dchas Europa Libert Communit Ensemble Intressant Inspirierend Espoir Zukunft Zusammenholen Imbrincada
You rock Identity Democracia Begegnung Pluralitat Rado Freude Vielfltigkeit Futuro Engagement Ispirazione Wir Participacin
Partage Patiencia Friedensmodell Verantwortung Europa Conanza Go Hiontach Fiert Persone Wsplnota Elevation Fraternit Dinamismo Empathy Construction Solidaritt Opportunit
Comunicazione Cambiamento Consapevolezza Insieme Together Unione Coinvolgimento Gemeinschaft Visionen Echange Inspiration Partycypacja Poder Enthusiasmus Impulsiv Bravissimi Schuman Participation Togetherness
http://ec.europa.eu/debatefuture-europe/,
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