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Rebuilding the equality, solidarity and democracy agenda within the European project

In the framework

Editoria Editorial

e are celebrating 2013 as the European Year of Citizens against the backdrop of a major crisis affecting all levels of our societies, when trust in institutions is fading and people are questioning the very legitimacy of European decisions.

For decades, market-oriented European policies have led to increasing inequalities and polarisation between the rich and the poor despite an overall stable economic growth. Consequently, imbalances are often tackled by countries through fiscal and social dumping policies. The crisis has critically revealed these situations and encouraged citizens to question the real added value, if not the very basis, of the European project. The austerity measures imposed in the weakest countries are undermining democracy together with the access to democratic and fundamental rights of millions of people, while worsening the economic downturn and increasing debts. Under these circumstances, the credibility of the European project as a whole is highly at stake. Policies which organise competition between people and territories without proper redistribution of wealth which focus on individuals-consumers and do not answer collective needs, which claim to offer equal opportunities but fail to support the disadvantaged, such policies are unacceptable and create a fertile space for regressive populist agendas. A real democratic society can only be achieved through the participation of all its citizens. This is a prerequisite for Europe to become a community of shared future based on a more equal distribution of wealth to achieve economic, social and democratic well-being for all. Solidarity and democracy go hand in hand. They progress together, just as they regress together. Today, they need to be at the center of public policies and to be better structured. A real democratic society means recognition of civil society. When policies implemented are supportive of the aspiration to a better life and shared future, civil society organisations play a key role in our societies in providing an essential environment for debate, civic action, inclusion of the excluded and engagement. When policies are supportive of the aspiration to a better life and shared future, civil society organisations are a major actor to help restore confidence in collective approaches to the problems individual citizens face. They give a voice to the aspirations of citizens and are

a decisive antidote to the sense of isolation and abandonment of individuals. Civil society organisations contribute to reinforcing democracy by giving meaningful strength to the feeling of belonging to a collective cause and shared concerns. The recognition of their role as advocates and agents for change is crucial for our democracies that are in need, especially in times of crisis, of constructive and collective approaches. Those who understand the need of strong social cohesion policies in these times of crisis should understand the role civil society organisations play. Civic commitment serves in challenging policy-makers for appropriate and suitable policy responses. Recognising civic commitment means that a genuine dialogue is engaged ahead of public decision. It also means fighting passive compliance. Active citizenship is based on the participation of individuals in the life of the communities they live in and their involvement in public debates. These are two essential elements for the vitality and the legitimacy of European democracy. The ECF is deeply concerned with these issues and tries to provide responses, together with other European networks. We took the opportunity of this European year to create and coordinate a Europe-wide civil society Alliance of over 60 European networks and platforms around a common Manifesto envisioning European citizenship as a value-based approach of living together in solidarity and the respect and access to fundamental rights for all, as a complement to the individual right-based and mobility-oriented acceptation of citizenship. For the first time in the history of the European years, this Alliance had a real national outreach and managed to mobilise thousands of civil society militants across Europe from a wide variety of sectors within thematic working groups and international conferences, thus fostering an open and meaningful deliberative process about the future of Europe. The conclusions of this collective reflection will be handed over to the European Commission and to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on December 13th 2013 in Vilnius, in the frame of a high visibility closing event of this European year. This will be an opportunity to call on the Commission and the other institutions to put active citizenship at the core of the European vision for a society grounded on equality, solidarity and the involvement of citizens at all levels of an economic, social, cultural and political Union.
The recommendations of the Alliance for democratic European citizenship The European Year of Citizens Alliance (EYCA) is an open network of European and national civil society organisations and networks willing to promote active citizenship as a core element of the European project in the context of the European Year of Citizens 2013. The principles on which the EYCA was established can be found in its Manifesto adopted in spring 2012. The EYCA gathered 62 European members representing over 4 500 individual organisations in 50 European countries. In spite of the lowest budget ever allocated to a European Year, the EYCA obtained financial support from the European Commission for its activities at the European level, whilst at the national level EYC Alliances almost exclusively functioned on the voluntary participation of their constituencies. Events have been organised at the local, national and European levels to raise citizens awareness of their rights and their means of participation in the EU decision-making process. These actions and discussions on citizenship have also been fuelled and continued online through the EYCA website (www.ey2013-alliance.eu) and social media. The main aim of EYCA has been to advocate for citizenship to become a transversal dimension of European policies and a key priority in all areas of the Unions action. For us, EU citizenship should not be confined to an individual rights-based approach, as fundamental as this aspect is, but should have a strong value-based dimension so as to tackle the Europeans sense of belonging to a common European project. In this respect, throughout the Year, the members of the EYCA have contributed to a transnational reflection process on themes linked to active citizenship in Europe via three working groups. Their recommendations have been gathered in a document Its about Us, its about Europe ! (Towards Democratic European Citizenship) which will be send to European decision-makers (see p. 4).

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Jean-Marc Roirant European Civic Forum President, European Alliance President.

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Towards Democratic European Citizenship

ne of the main aims of the wide cross-sector and transnational network that is the EYCA is to ensure that active citizenship is understood as a lasting cross-cutting theme in European public policies. After a year-long collective reflection and consultation process, the EYCA will present its key proposals for the reinforcement and enhancement of active citizenship in Europe at the closing event of the European Year in Vilnius on December 12th and 13th 2013. This process was divided into three thematic working groups (citizens participation and civil dialogue; economic, social and political rights as a coherent whole; an inclusive citizenship for all EU residents) gathering 117 civil society representatives from both European and national organisations (representing 26 different countries). The concept of citizenship of the European Union, introduced by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992, added a political dimension to the primarily economic nature of the European Community. According to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the Union places the individual at the heart of its activities by establishing a citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice. Despite its official recognition in the Treaties, EU citizenship is now in crisis. In an increasingly systematic way, populist forces build on the widespread popular disenchantment and stir nationalist and xenophobic attitudes in order to undermine the possibility of a shared future based on democratic and progressive values. From the EYCA perspective, rebuilding solidarity, providing a framework for citizens to better live together and reversing the current trend requires major changes in the way European policies are developed and implemented in order to regain momentum in Europe towards greater integration and the pursuit of peace. The EYCA recommendations have been compiled in a document entitled Its about Us, its about Europe! Towards Democratic European Citizenship which will be available in 16 languages and accessible on www.ey2013-alliance. This document gathers all the key priorities and the recommendations addressed by the EYCA members to European decision-makers at the European, national and local levels. These requests and proposals detail a vision for the European society divided into three chapters:

Chapter 1: ACTIVE EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP AS A PROJECT OF SOCIETY

Although the EYCA proposals are heavily influenced by the current economic, social and political crisis; they first and foremost give substance to a political vision for society and for Europe, namely, an open, inclusive and participative Europe.

These proposals therefore aim to regenerate the European project by bringing back citizens, solidarity, equality, fairness and vision where they should be : at the heart of Europe. This implies a shift from a dominant approach of regarding citizens as individual-consumers to an approach of a citizenship that both respects individual aspirations and takes into account collective needs for a shared future. Achieving this model requires a paradigm shift from a Europe that is largely considered as an economic project to one that restores and promotes the values of solidarity and equality among States and European citizens. Only by emphasizing these fundamental components can the legitimacy of the European project, the trust and enthusiasm for Europe and greater progression in the integration process be ensured.

Chapter 2 : FOR AN OPEN AND INCLUSIVE EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY

The EYCA vision for Europe will not be achieved until the persistent inequality and discrimination faced by many vulnerable, marginalised and excluded citizens is resolutely tackled. The indivisibility of rights is an indispensable pre-requisite of social inclusion and active citizenship. This requires specific attention to ensure that no citizen residing in the EU is excluded, at risk of exclusion or discriminated against due to a lack of respect of their social and economic rights. At the core of the European social model is care and protection for all, especially the most vulnerable members of society. The EYCA believes that citizens can only be conscious of their responsibilities towards each other in a society which enables effective and universal access to rights.

Chapter 3 : ONE EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY, THREE DEMOCRATIC PILLARS

Beyond these core questions all democratic pillars need to be functioning optimally so as to ensure a vibrant and effective European democracy. Education and media should be independent whilst reinforcing their European dimension. Within the framework designed by the universal values enshrined in the international treaties, European Union institutions should ensure that decisions are in line with citizens needs, aspirations and vision of society. Organised civil society defending human rights and the common good with constructive and collective solutions should be reinforced since its role as an advocate and agent for change is crucial for democracies, especially in times of crisis. The issue of European citizenship returns to the question of the construction of the European project. If the European Union institutions really want a social and political Europe, then citizenship of the Union must be granted to all the people who live in the territory including third country nationals who become residents in Europe. This is the vision of European citizenship EYCA members share and which is developed in its final recommendations (www.ey2013-alliance.eu). It will be defended in the upcoming months, particularly in the context of the 2014 European elections.
What does active European citizenship mean to you ? Throughout the year, the EYCA has collected Polaroid photographs during events or in the public space, asking people to take a photograph of themselves and to share their vision of active (European) citizenship. The idea of this photographic project was to launch a discussion, use art and photography as means of expression and realise a collective, participative and transnational project. The title [Work In Progress] was chosen to show that this project could never be complete. This exhibition does not have the purpose of finding any truth or proving any trend but it aims to engage discussions with people, to have them questioning themselves and reflecting about their role in society. Just as democracy, active citizenship is a process, a permanent work in progress. Nearly 400 citizens, from 44 nationalities, from ten European cities (London, La Courneuve, Amsterdam, Zagreb, Nantes, Berlin, etc.) played the game and shared their vision of active citizenship and/or Europe. Between humour, concerns, philosophy and common sense, their messages represent food for thought for those who will have a look at them. An exhibition gathering all the Polaroid photographs will be available from December 2013 in the frame of the Closing Event of the European Year of Citizens in Vilnius and declined online at www.polaroidproject.eu.

Journey to the end of the year 2013

he European Year of Citizens has a bitter taste for many actors, notably organisations, who played the game like we did and seized this opportunity to highlight the breach of European citizens rights and to further the idea of a European democratic citizenship.

We certainly knew from the beginning that from the institutional perspective this year would be, above all, a communication campaign. But if we take a look at the official Website of the European commission: The aim [of European years] is to raise awareness of certain topics, encourage debate and change attitudes.The European Year can also send a strong commitment and political signal from the EU institutions and member governments that the subject will be taken into consideration in future policy-making. In some cases, the European Commission may propose new legislation on the theme. A strong political signal: this is precisely what we hoped for and what many European citizens expected in this context of social, economical and political crises. As the European year is about to end, it is necessary to have a quick overview of the implication of European political and institutional actors. We were both optimistic and realistic about this operation and we fully agreed with Marie-Christine Vergiat, French Member of the European Parliament, who stated that: We should not be duped by what this year represents, but this is the occasion to really speak about citizenship. The current crisis is a financial crisis which has terrible economic and social consequences, because it is not being handled well. But it is also a political and democratic crisis. [] This European Year is an opportunity to debate over, with or without the support of the European institutions. More and more people are willing to reflect together to build and suggest alternatives at the European level. They are aware that many things happen at this level.

And we believed, like Antigoni Papadopoulou, the rapporteur for the European Year at the European Parliament, that: The European year of citizens (EYC) provides a unique opportunity to highlight citizens rights and to encourage active participation in the democratic life and public affairs of the EU. This is all the more necessary in a period of economic, social and political crisis, as she reminded in another interview . The president of the European commission, Jos Manuel Barroso, also reassured us during the opening event of the European Year in Dublin, as he concluded his speech stating that : The European Union is what we decide to make of it. There are many things that can and should be done better and this year of citizens offers new opportunities for helping to shape the European Union of the future. I want to see a real debate on how the European Union should evolve in the years to come, both in the economic and in the political sense. A debate which engages every citizen. That is why we are here today. And that is why I really want to engage with you in this debate. We were also reassured by the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, when she started the opening conference of the Year with civil society on January 22nd in Brussels (for those who find redundant or odd to have two opening events, lets point out here, that members of the European civil society were not invited at the first event in Dublin) : I see this year as providing an opportunity to recall and celebrate the rights and benefits we enjoy as citizens of the European Union. However the opportunity is greater than that. This year is our chance to have a pan-European debate about what it means to be a citizen of this European Union and the kind of future we want to realise within it. After a difficult start, as the official decision concerning the European year 2013 only took place in November 2012, we started believing that the year of citizens could really open a time of dialogue between citizens and European institutions, a time when the European leaders would pay more attention to the peoples needs and claims, while engaging a constant and constructive dialogue. The positions of major institutional actors in favour of a substantial debate about the future of the European Union seemed to confirm the idea that European leaders were ready to listen to citizens questions. We hoped that they would even take them into account thanks to (so to speak) the preoccupying socio-economic and pre-election contexts. So we were actually quite confident. Then we started doubting. What if this European Year of Citizens was not actually meant as a way to engage people in an equal to equal debate but would only be the umpteenth advertising campaign on all that the European institutions do to improve the daily life of citizens (consumers) ? Of course Citizens Dialogue illustrated the will of the European Commission to debate with European citizens since the College of Commissioners was mobilised during the whole year to go meet European citizens in all member States with an average of 200 participants at each meeting. What kind of dialogue is possible between 1 or 2 people with a microphone and an audience of 200 people (with one microphone in total) ?
Borders to cross On 29th-31st October, the European Civic Forum Board members met with over 250 stakeholders from all over Europe during a very inspiring learning conference in Amsterdam to discuss innovative practice of democratic and social innovation. The event labelised in the framework of the European year of citizens Alliance EYCA, was initiated by the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The event was particularly successful in showcasing no less than forty grassroots civic initiatives for social change across Europe. Project managers could discuss their methodology and their impact on society. The discussions highlighted the current crisis of representation in Europe at all levels and the need to react, widely mobilise social movements, when the discrepancy between policies implemented and citizens expectations pushes millions of people towards regressive and Eurosceptic populist movements. The European Civic Forum hosted a workshop about the impact of new forms of activism and their capacity to revive the public space, reconcile people with politics, to enhance dialogue and enable participation. The workshop engaged participants to reflect upon these issues through the presentation of two successful civicdriven initiatives for social change : GOTEO from Spain and Clubture from Croatia. And last but not least, we welcomed in the ECF network (on this occasion) a young and active Portuguese organisation of activists which was at the very origin of the 2011 social protest movement called Precarious Generation - Gerao Rasca, having mobilised about 300 000 people in Portugal against austerity and the disastrous social consequences of the financial and political crisis. For more information on the Borders to cross conference visit the website www.borderstocross.com and the LinkedIn group or get in touch with Stefanie Schuddebeurs (Stefanie.schuddebeurs@minbzk.nl) for follow-up.

An idea too good for a simple European Year

And while political discourses mentioned the necessary debate about the future of the European Union, the official communication about the Year was limited to promoting the actions of the EU for the European citizens Interestingly

enough, the official website of the European year was completed over the year by a website called Debate on the future of Europe, which was different from the Join the debate section of the official website, but still using the same graphic charter It was as if the European Commission had suddenly realised that joining the debate was a too good idea to give it up to a simple European year. The same trend could be seen on social networks. Lets take for example Twitter, the microblogging website: the official keyword of the Year (#eyc2013) was mostly used by institutional actors (representations of the European Commission, European Parliament information offices, Europe direct information centers, etc.) and civil society (EYCA, organisations, bloggers, etc.). The political class, as fond as it is of this communication 2.0 medium, did not show the same enthusiasm to use it in the frame of the European Year. For instance, Viviane Reding, European Commisioner for Justice, Citizenship and Fundamental Rights and referent for the European Year, never used this keyword in the second semester of 2013, including when she tweeted on topics which were clearly related to the objectives of the European Year, such as the loss of voting right for a citizen residing in another European country. Meanwhile, she took hold of the keyword #EUdeb8 (deb8 being the modern version of debate), which was associated to the great debate about the future of Europe the Commission wished for. When comparing the use of these two keywords by Viviane Reding in 2013, it is interesting to point out that after 10 occurrences in the first semester of 2013, the keyword #eyc2013 was never used in the second semester, whereas since its first appearance in online communication in February, #EUdeb8 was used over 50 times in the second semester of the year. More generally speaking, it is also remarkable, when simply typing European Year of Citizens in any search engine, how this Year was ignored (or neglected) by the European political class. Indeed, very few Members of Parliament or Commissioners used it to tackle the issue of the place of citizens in European democratic life (for example) a few months before the European elections; one could almost speak of a missed opportunity. The debate about the future of the Union is certainly too important to be limited to the European year of citizens, but it could have been used to show the openness of public authorities towards those they are suppose to serve. But this would imply more coherence than what has been observed when looking closely at the political implementation and

appropriation of the European Year of Citizens. Fortunately, too few European citizens were interested in the contradictions of the European Year to harm the European Union, which does not need this for that matter. All of those who could not neglect an opportunity to speak about European citizenship used the European Year to raise citizens awareness of the European project and the role they take in it. But all the same, the bitter taste due to the lack of involvement of the very leaders who insisted on the necessity to open a wide debate about the future of Europe is still present Bitter is the knowledge one gains from voyaging ! once wrote the poet. And he went on: Must one depart ? Remain ? If you can stay, remain. And remain active, one could add.

David Lopez, Ligue de lenseignement, member of the European Civic Forum

EU citizenship : crossing perspectives 2013 has not only been the European Year of Citizens ; it has also been the Year when the European Union welcomed its 28th member : Croatia. On July 8th 2013, 150 European citizens from 30 European countries gathered by EYCA in Zagreb, capital city of EU new member, exchanged views and experiences in a European conference entitled : EU citizenship : Crossing perspectives. The event was supported by the European Commission and the French Embassy in Croatia. In Croatia, in the Balkans, as much as in the rest of Europe, the current context urges us to reflect on the meaning of the European project and on the role we, as citizens, can play in it. Confronting views, reflecting in hindsight and moving towards a truly citizen-based European project : those were the aims of this day. To paraphrase the Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci, we could summarise the days discussions as an expression of the pessimism of intelligence and the optimism of will. Many speakers agreed upon the bleakness of the recent developments and the perspectives of the European Union. In the meantime, many citizens, organisations and movements tend to think that the European idea, the idea of a project based upon solidarity, openness and participation, is (well) alive but such movements too often face decision-makers for whom criticisms mean refusals. As expressed by Marina Blagojevi, a Serbian academic, Europe looks better in dreams and in visions, and this is why civil society should keep defending its vision of Europe. She added that we need to build a vision to be able to move forward, and a vision can only be a collective project, not an individual one. Citizens, movements and NGOs can really build up this collective vision. This is precisely what EYCA has done throughout the European Year 2013. Read the extensive summary of the discussions which took place during this event in English, French and Croatian on www.ey2013-alliance.eu

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EYCA-France: organisations as a catalyst for active citizenship

he year 2013, the European year of citizens, is about to end. During this difficult year the European democratic ambition was too often violated. In this respect, the example of France sadly speaks for itself, as over the last months equality between citizens has been questioned, xenophobic and racist discourses are no longer taboo and openness to others has declined.

All these attacks against democracy in France and in Europe show how all of the players defending democracy, including organisations, should get involved and mobilised. Therefore, in the French context, the Alliance for the European Year of Citizens essentially focused on promoting the contribution of organisations to democratic life. With this aim in mind, the actions and the work of the Alliance-France were based on three main areas: contribution to working groups at the European level and duplication of these groups in France, labelling events highlighting commitment, participation to democratic life and citizenship, and finally, organisation of common events.

More Europe in the actions of French organisations

As Nadia Bellaoui, president of the Confrence Permanente des Coordinations Associatives (CPCA, representing organisations at the national level), coordinating EYCA-France, reminds it, on the occasion of the Vilnius closing ceremony of the European Year, the European Alliance will present a series of concrete propositions to ensure that the European citizenship is high on the political agenda. This contribution from the civil society to the European public debate is a major symbol for the Alliance-France. The Alliance-France has indeed chosen to focus its work and actions on organisations as a catalyst for active citizenship, at all levels (local, national, European). The members have oriented their work on the valorisation of associative dynamism in France in many different fields in order to promote recognition and interest from public authorities and the general public towards actions which have been carried out by civil society about citizenship and democracy issues explains Marion Baby, deputy director of the organisation Civisme et Dmocratie (CIDEM, Civism and Democracy), which acts as executive secretariat of EYCA-France. Marion Baby clarifies the choice made by the Alliance-France: In order to promote the structuring of a strong democratic and citizens life, while enabling the participation of all, it is necessary to focus on the action of organisations. Indeed, either thanks to the integration through sports, popular education, social work, environmental struggle etc., this work is undeniably the medium of active citizenship and a broader involvement in society, and of the ability to become and be a citizen. These are aspects that the Alliance wanted to highlight all along this year of citizens, by labelling a certain number of events and actions. The Alliance-France also organised a video contest about the role of organisation in exercising citizenship in France and in Europe. The best projects will be broadcasted on December 5th during an event organised in Paris for the International Volunteer Day.

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Moreover, as members of the Alliance came from various fields of activities, a broad and inclusive reflection on the role of civil society in strengthening democratic societies was carried out from the perspective of a stronger dialogue with public authorities about these issues.

Communicate the French position about topics addressed by the EYCA

The Alliance-France wanted to follow up closely the work of the Alliance at the European level. It was therefore committed to contribute actively in each of the three working groups and take part in the drafting up political recommendations. Marion Baby represented the Alliance-France in the working group Participatory Citizenship and Civil Dialogue and insisted on the importance of civil dialogue and the necessity for national organisations to better take into account of the European level in their activities and national claims : Nowadays, the question of structuring civil society and its contribution to a more democratic and inclusive society cannot be addressed without considering the European level. The question of citizenship has also to be tackled at this larger scale. This citizenship is both new and emerging and it should be understood and grasped by the largest number of people. It is indeed essential to take over this new area of citizenship and to take part in it, in order to promote a strong and democratic European public space. This new space is not to be opposed to the local or national space ; it is rather complementary for an active citizenship for all at all levels. Ursula Serafin, director of the Maison de lEurope (House of Europe) in Paris, represented the Alliance-France in the working group called Economic, Social, and Political Citizenship : a coherent whole. She describes the work of these groups: Three topics were discussed by the members of the group : the social dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy, active Spain : the Year of assaults to Citizenship inclusion which includes social rights and responsibilities, nondiscrimination and equal treatment. The awareness of active Active citizenship was quite challenged, to say the citizenship notably requires exchanges between all Europeans least, in Spain during this so called European Year of and a debate about European issues. Ursula also underlines Citizens. EYCA Spain (find them here: http://ey2013alliance.eu/spanish-alliance/) was mainly involved in the interest of the transversal, transnational and multi-level profighting against these assaults to the exercise of cicess of EYCA : The contributions of experts consulted by the tizenship. group, and those of participants (Germans, Finnish, Cypriots, French, Slovenes, Latvians, British) enabled a comparison First against an educational reform proposed by the between realities on the field and European objectives. The government which includes the elimination of the Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights in analysis of various national approaches on topics such as fight primary, secondary, and baccalaureate programs. This against poverty or discrimination was an opportunity to enlighproposal deviates from several European decisions and ten both the differences and the common values between the texts and gathered against it a strong movement of French and other Europeans. Learning how to live together protestation, notably from civil society organisations. within a multinational working group like ours helps developing Through EYCA, Spanish NGOs could raise awareness of their European colleagues and involve them in the European citizenship. Clmentine Lafort, in charge of international relations at the organisation Itinraire International, represented the AllianceFrance in the working group An inclusive citizenship for all EU residents. She explains that this group worked on the specific approach which endeavours to include all European citizens in the most important topics of citizenship: right to vote, right to take part to the dialogue between the European Union and the citizens, freedom of movement. This last theme, freedom of movement for all citizens and access of all to mobility programmes, was the most discussed topic in France. Many of the recommendations developed in the frame of the EYC2013 Alliance are intended for national leaders, as member States are often reluctant to implement community directives. The Alliance-France is aware of the importance of carrying on the mobilization so that these propositions are heard, and feed into the debates during the upcoming European election campaign says Nadia Bellaoui. This European year may not end on December 31st.
advocacy campaign (petition to the Council of Europe, letter to the Spanish Minister of Education, etc.) and the Spanish organisations were received at the Parliament to express their views on this topic. The law has not yet been approved and civil society organisations will continue to oppose it in Spain and to fight such trends in other EU countries. The second one is linked to the June 2013 Public Administration Reform which includes the closure of the Youth Council of Spain (CJE), a Member of EYCASpain, with the aim to replace it by an advisory body of youth associations. Demonstrations and acts of support are being organised to save the CJE, the only public agency which serves as a channel for youth participation and that has been representing and defending Spanish youth for the past 30 years. Active and creative support campaigns to the CJE have been launched by youth organisations and relayed at the European level. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, has shared his concern with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. As can be seen from these examples, the EYC 2013 in Spain was actually marked by serious threats to the exercise of citizenship but civil society showed its responsiveness and ability to mobilise at the European level.

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Coordinated by : David Lopez, Alexandrina Najmowicz et Anne-Charlotte Oriol Translation : Eve-Laure Gay Publishing : communication department of La Ligue de lenseignement Photo credits : Benot Debuisser (couverture) Culture Action Europe (pp. 2, 6, 8) CC BY-SA Sebastiaan ter Burg (p. 4) EYCA (p. 10)

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