EUROPEAN YEAR OF CITIZENS 2013 ALLIANCE

EYCA EYCA is a civil society Alliance of civil society organizations

and networks members of the EESC Liaison Group

ALDA is member of the European Steering Committee

It has support of numerous EU networks and the European Economic and Social Committee

EYCA Long-run objectives:

• to initiate a European-wide debate on issues relating to the exercise of European citizens rights and to citizens’ participation

• to mobilise and coordinate wide civil society engagement in the activities scheduled during European Year of Citizens 2013

EYCA CampaignStarting point: In the framework of the European Year of

Citizens 2013, the EU citizenship tends to limited to individual rights-based approach and does not tackle the Europeans’ sense of belonging to a common EU

EYCA calls for:• Broadening the focus of the European Year 2013 and give

European citizenship its full meaning and scope;• Ensuring the appropriate financial means for

implementation of the European Year of Citizens;• Involving civil society organisations in the preparation

and the implementation of the European Year of Citizens.

EYCA Manifesto• EYCA defines active citizenship as… - a democratic citizenship which is based on citizens’ legal status and

includes all aspects of life in a democratic society” - a democratic citizenship which guarantees that citizens and civil

society organisations have a say in the EU policy-shaping and decision-making processes

- a democratic citizenship which implies that European institutions enjoy public confidence and can secure active involvement of citizens and organizations in decision-making at all levels

- a democratic citizenship which also operates at Member States’ level (the structures for citizens’ engagement form part of every citizen’s experience

- a democratic citizenship that guarantees that all citizens can participate in the life of their communities and the shaping of public policies

EYCA ManifestoEmphasis of the manifesto:• European Year of Citizens 2013 as an opportunity to

bridge the gap between the EU and its citizens• citizenship as a two-way relationship between a

community and its members• European citizenship as a universal right for all EU

residents to enjoy the same right to participate in public life

• European citizenship as active and participatory citizenship

EYCA National CoalitionsActive in the member states by organising activities aimed

at promoting active citizenship and reflecting on the issues the EYCA wants to draw attention to.

ALDA is involved in the following national coalitions:As COORDINATOR:- In ITALY: together with CIME + Forum Terzo Settore- In CROATIA: together with AEGEE + CEECNAs MEMBER:- In FRANCE: coalition led by CPCA- In GREECE: under construction