Brussels, 15 June 2015
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the last few months, there was an urgent need to respond to a series of terrible events that shook Europe.
The Paris and Copenhagen terrorist attacks and the migration crisis in the Mediterranean required the immediate and full attention of the Commission.
All these events had a clear impact on European citizens.
Citizens do care about the protection of their fundamental rights and they want to enjoy them in a secure society.
Citizens cannot accept that people in need of protection put their lives at risk and die in the Mediterranean.
To address these challenges and reply to the concerns of European citizens I have presented the Commission’s responses, namely the European Agenda on Security and the European Agenda on Migration.
Having explained that, I want to be clear: The issue the European Citizenship is one of the most important ones.
In a moment where everything seems to be put in question, the rights and encompassed in European Citizenship represent the same essence of both the necessity and the success of the European Union.
A growing number of voices criticise today the European project and its main achievements.
For example Schengen and the right of free movement, which I hold dear: because I belong to this generation that needed numerous stamps on the passport and waited long hours to cross borders that for today’s young people never existed!
Today xenophobic, racist and anti-Semitic attitudes lead, not only to unacceptable behaviours, but also to criminal and even terrorist attacks.
How can we address these issues, change the perceptions, and create positive messages?
One important piece of this work is the Europe for Citizens programme, which is under my responsibility.
The objectives of the Europe for Citizens programme are extremely relevant and are guiding us not only in the framework of this programme, but also in many different policy areas that this Commission is working on.
So, I am very pleased to be given today the opportunity to discuss it with you and present you my first thoughts but most importantly to hear yours.
Though relatively modest in budget terms, the Europe for Citizens programme is very substantial in content terms.
It supports activities that cover Europe-wide civic participation and actions, which have lasting effects.
It offers funding for European projects and initiatives that foster mutual understanding, historic memory, intercultural dialogue, solidarity, societal engagement and volunteering at the European level.
Let me just give you a couple of examples from last year: In France, the project entitled “SUCCESS” consisted in setting up a network of young citizens coming from different cultural, social and national backgrounds, living in several popular multicultural disadvantaged neighbourhoods and major European cities, to contribute to the reversal of populist, racist and xenophobic attitude in Europe and, to promote the founding values of European Citizenship.
In that context, reflection was carried out, notably on civil participation of EU citizens and immigrants in the political and civic life, multiculturalism, mass media and transparency of institutions.
Meeting with local, national and European policy makers also took place.
The project “BURNT” was implemented in 2014 to remember and reflect upon the book burnings by the Nazi and upon the banning of certain literature during the Stalinist era in 5 European cities in 4 different countries (Bulgaria, Germany, Romania and Slovenia).
It aimed at involving local communities, citizens, stakeholders and decision-makers to create a wide public awareness and to debate about the EU values notably the freedom of expression in Europe.
Looking at the bigger picture, in 2014 the Europe for Citizens programme co-financed: 412 projects from 31 participating countries, involving more than 1 million citizens.
These projects took the form of town-twinning activities, networks of towns, civil society projects -and projects on European remembrance as well as operating grants to European civil society organisations that are active in the thematic areas targeted by the programme.
More importantly, these projects are run by people who dedicate their lives to active citizen participation.
Through this work, citizens are actively developing the European idea.
They promote the value of participating and acting together to build a better Europe.
This programme, before it even came to the responsibility of the Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner, it had to respond to the public debate and the concerns of the citizens and the civil society. Because it is managed in a bottom-up approach.
Citizens have the opportunity to bring in their concerns. Already now, some projects targeted challenges linked to migration or to the economic crisis and its socials effects.
I am convinced of the need to give new momentum to the Europe for Citizens programme.
We need to do more.
You know that we have regular civil dialogue with key European organisations and think tanks actively involved in the Europe for Citizens programme.
In this regard, I should mention that at this very moment, in parallel to our meeting, the Commission services and civil society organisations involved in the Europe for Citizens Programme hold their first Civil Dialogue meeting of 2015, on the occasion of which they will also exchange their views on what the 2016 priorities should be.
In the same manner, I am really interested in listening to your proposals and ideas that will be precious for feeding our preparation of the 2016 work programme.
We will submit it to the consultative committee end of September for an adoption before the end of the year.
Dear friends,
When we speak about citizenship we often also refer to EU citizenship and the rights conferred to every citizen by the EU Treaty.
EU citizenship entails many precious rights, like the right to move and reside freely within the EU, or the right to political participation in the European and municipal elections and protects against discrimination.
Raising awareness and reinforcing citizenship is one of the Commission’s key roles.
Next year, the Commission will present its third EU citizenship report.
The report is currently in preparation under the lead of my colleague Commissioner Vera Jourova and will assess the progress achieved in making EU citizenship a reality in citizens’ daily lives.
As regards the Europe for Citizens programme, as a first step, I asked my services to identify all possible ways were complementarities can be developed between other policies and the Europe for Citizens programme.
Dear Members of the Culture Committee,
To me, the European citizenship, is this shared feeling of belonginess to the country of values called Europe, It has been the ultimate legitimizing rationale for moving Europe forward.
The principle that gave and still gives meaning to our ever closer Union.
I am glad to be responsible for the Europe for Citizens Programme and to hold a regular dialogue with your Committee.
Once again, thank you for the invitation and I look forward to a fruitful discussion.