The EUNITE project aims to promote, encourage and support the European civil society democratic and civic participation at local, national and transnational level.
Context
Although the 2019 European elections had the highest political participation ever (increasing from 42.6% in 2014 to 50.6% in 2019), the general trend since 1979 has been steadily decreasing and in some countries, participation was very low with a mere third of citizens submitting their vote. For this reason, the next EU parliamentary elections in 2024 will be an important juncture to evaluate the active participation of European citizens in the European Union.
In recent years, the European Union has experienced a wave of populist movements advocating greater national autonomies. Even though the majority of the member states’ citizens are in favour of the EU, this development has caused rising extremism, political polarisation, and manifestations of an anti-European sentiment.
The project’s general objective is to increase participation of EU citizens in EU Parliament Elections and general interest of citizens in EU policies through the implementation of a series of workshops, debates and encounters. Through its activities, the project will bring citizens closer to the EU institutions, enhancing their knowledge about the EU opportunities and policies, and making citizens responsible for their active participation in European democratic political life.
Furthermore, EUNITE will take into account the role of disinformation on producing lack of interest in EU politics, and how the Covid pandemic social context affected the democratic debate. By promoting an exchange between EU citizens, and gathering them to activities linked to EU policies, the project will stimulate reflections and debates among participants.
Objectives
- To enhance knowledge of EU citizens with diverse backgrounds and of diverse age, including those of underrepresented categories (women/people with disabilities/minorities) about EU institutions, EU parliament elections and opportunities;
- To increase citizens’ knowledge on media/information and enhance their critical thinking skills, enabling them to deliberate on current political issues;
- To facilitate a European exchange among citizens and provide citizens thus with concrete opportunities for living the EU integration project;
- To foster active civic participation at local/EU level and encourage voter participation at EU elections in 2024.
Activities
- ‘EU for All’, Trainings and workshops to improve the EU citizens knowledge about EU institutions, EU parliament elections and opportunities;
- ‘Be Informed and Debate!’ a training course to increase citizens’ knowledge on media/information to enhancing their critical thinking skills, enabling them to deliberate on current political issues.
- ‘Let’s participate’, a training courses on participatory democracy and to bring European citizens closer to EU political institutions;
- Encounters among EU citizens to share experiences, ideas and proposals about EU policies.
Resources
- Infopack on EU institutions and opportunities;
- Infopack on (mis/dis) information;
- EUNITE Citizens’ Policy Proposals;
- Document with recommendations of citizens from all partner countries to share with MEPs.
Impact
- Enhanced knowledge about EU institutions, EU parliament elections and opportunities for 400 citizens in partner countries;
- Increased knowledge on media/information and enhanced critical thinking skills for 400 citizens in 5 partner countries;
- Facilitated a European exchange among EU citizens and provided citizens thus with concrete opportunities for living the EU integration project (210 citizens participating at the online meeting event and 150 citizens at the face to face meeting in Brussels);
- Fostered active civic participation at local/EU level and encouraged voter participation at EU elections in 2024 (300 citizens participating in encounters organised in 5 partner countries, promoted initiatives and exchanged views with local/regional political representatives and EU Parliamentarians).
Partners
- CESIE (Italy, coordinator)
- Out of The Box – OTB (Belgium)
- Forum Za Slobodu Odgoja-FSO (Croatia)
- Pistes Solidaires (France)
- VIVES University of Applied Sciences (Belgium)
- Regional Development Fund (Greece)
