Join the Debate around Europe, EYCA and Civil Society Day 2013

The second EYCA Working Groups’ meeting was held in Brussels on the 5th March. Mrs Antonella Valmorbida (ALDA) and Diogo Pinto (EMI) co-chaired the Working Group I on Participatory Citizenship and Civil Dialogue. During the session participants were involved in a creative laboratory to identify solutions to tackle the obstacles to participation and civil dialogue identified by the WG1 during its first meeting. The objective of WG1 is to identify and formulate shared recommendations aimed at strengthening the involvement of European citizens in EU policy-making and engage them on a comprehensive civil dialogue. The result of the WG’s work will be integrated into the general position that the European Alliance will submit to all EU Institutions by the end of the year. More information is available on the newly established Alliance’s website.

On the 6 March EYCA together with the European Economic and Social Committee and the EESC Liaison Group with European civil society organisations and networks, have organised this year’s Civil Society Day. The Civil Society Day has addressed key issues of active and participatory citizenship against the backdrop of a major financial, economic and social crisis that is in essence undermining democratic processes and challenging the very legitimacy of institutions and public policy at both national and European level. The aim of the event was also to reflect the great variety of forms of expression and commitment across Europe that demonstrates the true meaning of European citizenship.