REFLECTING ON EUROPE Athens Citizens debate Without Panel: Discussion about Europe

Transcription

1 REFLECTING ON EUROPE Athens Citizens debate Without Panel: Discussion about Europe Date: June 19, :30 to 21:00 Venue: Technopolis City of Athens Citizens Debate Committee of the Regions & The City of Athens The Athens Citizens Debate was held in the the framework of the Committee of the Regions initiative Reflecting on Europe. The event took place with a fully participatory approach that created the conditions for dialogue between stakeholders centred on specific questions that were designed beforehand. This allowed new collective knowledge to arise, useful for both the City of Athens and the Committee of Regions. It also facilitated a stronger network to emerge both locally and wider. The collective knowledge and stronger network will support the scaling up of local efforts. 1

2 The main objective was to capture the key obstacles and barriers that citizens experience as well as ideas and proposals that will lead to a future we want to achieve in Europe. This objective was met through open dialogue where the range of perceptions of what is occurring now was exchanged by diverse stakeholders from public authorities, civic society actors and other citizens. Below some of the main remarks made during the Debate are briefly presented: Mayor of Athens, Mr. Georgios Kaminis: The Municipality aims at having a close cooperation with the active local and internationalgroups of citizens in order to address the challenges of the city and work together on finding the best possible solutions. It has consciously chosen to support the active citizens groups and be aligned with the new trend of Governance which requires the participation of the Civil Society at the process of shaping European Policies. Hosting and implementing essential deliberative processes might be longer but certainly is the right way. 2

3 President of the European Committee of Regions (CoR), Mr. Markku Markkula: The CoR is committed to tackle the societal challenges, such as the refugee crisis. One example is Athens were the city was not ready for this crisis. Yet, the local response was quick and the action immediate. The country s first refugee centre was created in the Athens, thanks to the Municipality s efforts and now is sheltering 2400 refugees. Starting a de-centralised governance scheme in a bottom-up approach, is the only way to work in the future. Community Actors: During the event, the following City Makers of Athens shared their stories, making a brief introduction to what they offer and do for the City, presenting their initiatives and their activities. In addition, representatives from European cities networks and citizens initiatives also took the floor presenting their work and vision. 1. Maria Peteinaki - Alternative Tours of Athens 2. Vicky Strataki - Amaka Art Therapy 3. Rebecca Dalby Bowler - KHORA COMMUNITY CENTRE 3

4 4. Benoit Durandin - Kassandras 5. Ioanna Nisiriou - We Need Books 6. Diana Vouturakou - Unique Minds 7. Marios Andreopoulos - Social Asset 8. Haris Biskos synathina 9. Gabriel Jacqmin - Projects & policy support officer, Eurocities 10. Egbert Fransen - Director Pakhuis de Zwijger, Citymakers Summit, Amsterdam 11. Lucas de Mann - (performer, in Search of Europe) - Τhe Village of Omonοia in collaboration with the Urban Dig Project Mapping the range of obstacles Following a 20-minute discussion clusters of obstacles were created and people voted with sticky dots to indicate a prioritisation of the most important obstacles that need to be tackled. 4

5 1) Lack of connection between levels of government/ Lack of connection between citizens and governments (23 votes) Lack of communication in different levels of governance (5) Lack of Citizens access in all levels (3) Lack of interconnection between cities-governments and the EU for the designing of policies (5) Exclusion of Citizens groups from the decision-making process (bureaucracy, lack of money) (10) 2) Lack of communication/ information sharing at all levels (17 votes) Lack of communication at all levels (12) Confusion for the European issues (1) The only communication channel for what is happening at the EU is the national governments (3) Communication of smaller initiatives Unstable, national, regulatory framework/ Lack of information (1) 3) Being a monetary Union, instead of a real Union (16 votes) The unification is only monetary and not essential / Inequalities between North and South and the countries that joined the Union in 2004/ conflicting interests in between European groups (16) 5

6 The rest of the obstacles clustered into the following themes: Lack of Trust Unreliability of our country in comparison to our city (1) Lack of trust (Attitude, lack of ownership) (11) Lack of easily opening your heart Lack of scheduling and continuation at the Public Administration (1) EU conditionality: Not taking seriously into account social growth, employment and regional priorities ànational AgendasàShort term thinkingàlegitimacyàcrisisàdemocratic Deficit (9) Lack of motivation for the individual and also groups (3) Non-contributory taxes / Over-Taxation (3) Lack of Resources Lack of stable resources (8) Lack of funds (Investors, Tax ) (2) Lack of Resources and Funding Access in funding (1) Lack of Resources/ Non-existent financial resources at a local community level / There is no direct information from the elected ones of the local communities to the Greek Roma Lack of multicultural point of view - Asylum process, Services refugees are using (3) Inclusion policies (2) Fundamental lack of services, not meeting human rights (food, housing, legal, health) Bureaucracy need for new simple and modern rules which will be applied based in equality (10) Fear/ Insecurity (4) Individualism Lack of collective consciousness (8) 6

7 Mapping the range of Ideas/ Proposals The proposals and ideas that the participants came up with are as follows: 1) Lack of connection between levels of government/ Lack of connection between citizens and governments (23 votes) Creation of an Urban Agenda at an EU level: common budget, design policies, common forum, direct funding, support of city networks, increase of EU budget Shaping the process for productive cooperation and cooperation between the different levels of Governance Creation of a European Citizens Service Centre More power to the cities (Urban Agenda implementation), highlighting the Active citizens groups in politics Open Direct Line to the EU (complaints, rather than doing at local/national level) Education & promotion of community values 2) Lack of communication/ information sharing at all levels (17 votes) Communication: Monitoring! R&D + Innovation Practical Goals Innovation exchange Creation of Ecosystems through co-operations (SocietyàLocal Business & NGOàEUàMunicipalitiesàSociety etc.) e.g. Digitalisation at the Municipality of Athens Chief Data-Officer 7

8 Cruise at Piraeus Consortium of European Municipalities for Supplies and Efficiency The Municipalities and the local authorities should transmit information personally to every citizen Education / citizen motivation through new effective policy Strengthening / Supporting the networking of the neighbourhoods - Education, Open Processes at the neighbourhoods, Door-to-Door More Education / Gaining experiential knowledge for the commons 3) Being a monetary Union, instead of a real Union (16 votes) Support the role of the European Parliament We need a unified policy approach / Focus on common interest, tackle inequalities Co-promote stories & Fictions European Constitution (Foreseeing more power to the cities) Need for politicians with vision and courage that will not think the national interest only in a short-scale period 4) Other ideas/ Proposals? More Public Spaces Response to the obstacles and Ideas/Proposals 8

9 Reflections: If we understand each other, then we can do things together and solve the problems. Experience of Erasmusà learning how to be a European citizen Exchange, meeting and experiencing other cultures. Should be focused mostly on elders Erasmus might not be the solution as such but it is the beginning. We need to invest more in youth. The aforementioned (Participatory processes, Erasmus exchange etc.) won t resolve all our problems, we need more faith and trust in Europe. These will help bring back the vision. We are seeing lack of trust all over Europe, leading to strange results (e.g. Brexit). People feel they don t have a voice and become marginalised. Give people the voice in order to create stability. We are trying to find problems to solve. There is one thing that politicians forget; we need to make people happy. We need to find ways to make people happier and connect them. By making people happy you support their engagement and therefore, find together what is important to them. Focus out of GDP and economics and pay more attention on our way of living. Focus not only at the problems we want to address but also at the positive characteristics of what makes us better and brings us closer. Be in constant doubt but let s do it together. Maintain balance (e.g. the way we live, spent free time, connect to each other, ecological balance etc.). Let s not forget we had peace for the last decades, that is why we need a stronger Union. Focus not only on enlarging the Union but also on deepening it. Natasja then invited Mr. Markkula to come to the front and asked him several questions as a way of eliciting his response. Q: Natasja What is happening with all these answers and ideas? How your life has changed by coming to that discussion? A: Mr. Markkula Let s co-create Europe. Let s co-create happiness. Let s show we can work together. 9

10 Authorities provide the space, facilities etc. and start small in order to bring this happiness on surface and create a network. Scientific knowledge is great, but what about happiness which is also so important? We want to do more and it is positive we have so many people committed. We can start building together using the experience that is already there (e.g. local solutions in different parts of Europe, regarding the refugee crisis). Q: Participant We prepare proposals but what about the limited funds? A: Mr. Markkula A share of the fund should be in small local projects. Most people want real action and not bureaucracies and that is it how it has to be. Closing remarks The Mayor of Athens closed the event by congratulating the European Committee of the Regions for this initiative, sharing also some key reflections and next steps. The future belongs to the cities. Mr. Kaminis underlined that people should have the chance to participate more. In cities they can have this opportunity by getting more involved in the decision-making process regarding the things that affect their everyday life. Moreover, he pointed out that in cities, young citizens are mostly cosmopolitan people and strong supporters of Europe. Therefore, more mobility is needed, with a focus not only in physical mobility but also mobility of the mind as well as mobility funds that will bring people together. He concluded by highlighting the importance of re-designing social policies and re-shaping the European Constitution, in order to create a stronger Union. 10

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