OUR SIA4Y PROJECT FINAL CONFERENCE ON 28TH APPRIL 2020 IN GDAŃSK
It is now time to mark this date in your calendars and contact us for possible travel support to join the SIA4Y project team for our final conference! We will meet for a full-day event in Gdansk, Poland on 28th April 2020. Our conference venue is the European Solidarity Centre.
We are currently looking for youth participants to take part in the youth conference on Freedom of Information and transparency needs in the EU. Our Europe for Citizens co-funded project called „Strengthening civil society rights by Information Access for European Youth (http://civicyouth.eu) – SIA4Y will have its final event on 28th April in Gdańsk, Poland. The project organized a series of mirroring events “Access to public information from the youth perspective” in each partner country (Poland, Estonia, Finnland and Belgium), and we’re now organizing the final conference to summarize our efforts and activities.
Our event will count ca.100 participants from different European countries (i.e. already confirmed youth from Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, Finland, Estonia and Belgium). Our target group will be mainly young people ageing between 18 and 28 years old. The main objective of the event will be to inform and train the participants in the use of the right of access to public information, including practical training on socially responsible relationships and participatory budgeting knowledge for youth. We have now confirmed speakers from AccessInfo www.accessinfo.org who run the AskTheEU platform, as well as from Team Europe- official European Commission advisors.
If you want us to cover your travel and/or accommodation cost you need to contact the Project Coordinator, Magda until 20th Match 2020 the latest at magda.rzucidlo@euroregionabltic.eu
On 2nd and 3rd December 2019, our Europe for Citizens project partners travelled to Gdansk, Poland, to visit us and engage in a conversation centring around the theme of Solidarity.
What is the Connect Europe project about? This project aims to connect citizens and civil society representatives with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The European values are threatened with increased populism and nationalism around Europe. We want to raise awareness about the EU charter and discuss our fundamental rights as citizens of the EU. It is essential for all the partners in this project to counter these right-wing movements and instead promote a visionary and factual based discussion. In this project, we aim to take a different approach when it comes to communicating EU issues. Our strategic point of departure is starting a conversation about the common, cross-border challenges that will create a fora where common solutions can be discussed in a constructive manner. The topic of a common future is the starting point for citizens-to-citizens dialogue. This will move the discussion from a pro- or against the EU towards a more visionary, value- and fact-based discussion.
In a tour of the city we learned of the hardships, battles and historical events that had taken place in this war-tormemded city – historically a place for outside forces to claim with little disregard for the existing population. But also, a city that should come to play a profound role in the healing of Europe and fall of the communist regime.
The key to this story we found at the old shipyard. Today a peaceful sight and build in its place, the European Solidarity Center, a museum, but in earlier days a centre of deadly worker struggles, a fight for justice and – in the end – the birthplace of free trade unions in Poland. Sparks may have flown here but as it turned out, the same sparks that sprung from the suffering of suppressed workers lighted the fire of democracy and foresaw the end of communism.
Solidarity
The European charter for fundamental rights has a chapter especially suited to converse about in this historical place, Chapter IV, Solidarity and especially Article 28:
Article 28
Right of collective bargaining and action Workers and employers, or their respective organisations, have, in accordance with Community law and national laws and practices, the right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements at the appropriate levels and, in cases of conflicts of interest, to take collective action to defend their interests, including strike action.
Solidarity was also the name of the first free trade union in Polen, Solidarność, who’s leader, Lech Wałęsa, was later elected for president and awarded the Nobel Peace Price. But in the beginning, it was a social movement that trough civil resistance worked to ensure social change and workers rights.
A place for solidarity
European solidarity centre today houses the story of the struggles of Solidarność and the Polish struggle for democracy. This special day it also housed us, a school class of youngster who was to learn about the story as well as debating amongst themself what the idea of solidarity meant for them.
When asked to reflect upon the meaning of solidarity the students came up with many responses – it’s about teamwork, coming together, acceptance. But also, it is about power and action. The power of the many was not lost on the youth who was inspired by the stories of the past.
As Jacek Koltan, deputy director of European Solidarity Center puts it, one of the most important demands today is the need for physical spaces where we can create a sense of community and debates the struggles of today. The issues we face, such as climate changes and social division, is those of great complexity that we need to come together around if we are to find sustainable solutions.
Perhaps that is also what we need today. New spaces to reflect on our shared interest. Together we stand, divided we fall.
The main topic of this year’s Forum is Circular and sharing economy as an answer to demographic changes and environmental challenges in the Baltic Sea Region.
The programme for the two-day event includes 19 seminars on a wide range of topics that support the thematic focus of the Forum. During the seminars, you will be able to see the potential for the development of the Circular Economy in the Baltic Sea Region in areas such as food, health, tourism, transport, cities, bioeconomy, industry, education, migrants, labour market and demography.
The Forum also offers the opportunity to participate in the Networking Village where participants can have a direct contact with those responsible for the work of EUSBSR.
And make sure you watch the clip inviting you to the Forum!
On the 6th and 7th
of May the Baltic Sea Youth 2030 meeting took place in Gdansk.
Several Youth organizations have
contributed and young people have had the opportunity to build the future plan
together with experts on youth and
cooperation.
ERB was present, along with CBSS, BSSSC, ERB, Latvian Youth Council, Swedish Youth, Council,
Leontief Centre, Nordisk Institute på Åland/Ålands Natur och
Milljö, ReGeneration 2030, International
Cooperation Burau at the Office of the Marshal of
the Pomorskie Voivodeship, Morena Association, as well as LSU
and LJP representatives who joined
online.
It was a crucial meeting to start a more
systematic process of coordination amoung youth in the Baltic Sea Regions, to
share with all the participants what has been done so far and which steps to be taken for the future.
The topics discussed focused on the
practical instruments to engage young people and to improve communication
between youth organizations.
Young people underlined the real need to
have the opportunity to meet several times a year, in addition to online
meetings, to build a strong cooperation within the Baltic Sea Regions.
The wokshop on the second day, brought
some real ideas for the possibilities and applications that youth can catch in
the frame of Erasmus + program. Thanks to the experts present, youth have
started to draw the initial ideas that will be developed in the future.
Young people are planning to create a video and a
letter for all organizations, politicians and adults who can and want to actively contribute, in
order to ask their support.
Let’s make our voice heard!
Text by our IVY volunteer – Milena Pallotta
Circular and sharing economy as an answer to demographic changes and environmental challenges in the Baltic Sea Region
This is the main topic of the 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region that will take place in Gdańsk on June 12-13, 2019.
The Forum will create the opportunity to participate in 18 thematic panels/workshops and Networking Village within three main thematic sessions:
‘Going circular – a pathway to well-being in the Baltic Sea Region’
‘Business-driven approach to circular economy in the Baltic Sea Region’
‘Demography and circularity in the Baltic Sea Region: interdependent or disconnected?’
The Forum will be hosted by the Pomorskie Region, together with the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation (BSSSC) under the Norwegian chairmanship, in close cooperation with the European Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and other partners.
About 800 participants from governments, international organisations, NGOs, universities, local and regional administrations and businesses will gather to debate on trends and opportunities in the Baltic Sea Region.
If you are an enthusiastic and open-minded person, interested in working in an international context, you should seize this opportunity!
The South Baltic Programme’s Joint Secretariat in Gdańsk (Poland) offers a long-term, temporary replacement employment contract for the vacancy of Project Officer (estimated replacement period till the end of 2019).
If you are an enthusiastic and open-minded person, interested in working in an international organisation, you should seize this opportunity!
The Joint Secretariat of Interreg V-A Poland-Denmark-Germany-Lithuania-Sweden (South Baltic) Programme, on behalf of the Managing Authority (Ministry of Economic Development of Poland), is looking for a candidate to fill the JS position of the Head of Joint Secretariat. (more…)
In a year that will be significant for the future of the European integration, you are invited to elaborate on the question “Regain or Retreat? European Youth in an Age of Uncertainty”, during the event that will take place in Gdańsk, on 24th-26 July 2017.
The conference is organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, sited in Warsaw, in collaboration with the European Solidarity Centre (Gdańsk) and the Green European Foundation (Brussels).
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a German association based on a worldwide network that counts on a cooperation with 16 state-level Böll Foundations in each of Germany’s federal states, on a worldwide network that encompasses 30 international offices worldwide, and on over 100 partner projects in approximately 60 countries. The foundation aims at fostering democracy and upholding human rights, taking action to prevent the destruction of the global ecosystem, advancing equality between women and men, securing peace through conflict prevention in crisis zones, and defending the freedom of individuals against excessive state and economic power.
Since the foundation aims also to support talented, socio-politically engaged undergraduate and graduate students in Germany and abroad, the three-day Conference in Gdańsk, will be open to young people aged 18-35.
European Green Party co-chair Reinhard Bütikofer, will open the event that will address issues including globalization and European and nationalist answers to it. Topics like the current challenges to open societies and inclusive democracies will be explored, reflecting upon people’s risk of being divided along lines of integration and identity. Important points of reference and processes that are shaping the world view of engaged young Europeans will be also discussed. Causes of and reactions to growing feelings of uncertainty, injustice and fear in EU member states will be taken into account, discussing on ways to make Europe be more socially responsible, just and sustainable.
The program of the event foresees practical workshops and ample space for youth networking.
For more detailed information on the conference:
call for applications
Candidates will be requested to state briefly their motivation and ideas regarding their personal contribution to the conference in a short CV. Possible participants will be selected among different countries of origins and different backgrounds, to have a wider exchange of points of view.
Costs for accommodation and board will be covered by the organizers and travel costs reimbursed.
If you wish to participate, please send your application to the coordinator Gert Röhrborn at: eyc2017@pl.boell.org Deadline: 30th April 2017
The EU-Russia Civil Society Forum invites young professionals aged between 25 and 35 from the EU, Russia, and other European states to apply for the Annual “Europe Lab” Forum.
Forum for Young Professionals “Europe Lab” is a unique communication and exchange platform for changemakers from all over Europe working in public administration, business, NGOs, universities, think tanks, and other fields of professional engagement.
Main goals of “Europe Lab” are to enable cross-sector cooperation and promote an exchange of ideas, develop partner and professional networks, and encourage common cross-border projects and initiatives all over Europe.
Workshops:
• Freedom and Captivity – Solidarity in the Present and in the Past
• Climate Change – Where Are You Going?
Innovative Formats:
• Gdańsk in the Spotlight – City Development Hackathon
• 360° Story – Multimedia Telling
Each format will be curated by a coordinator.
The best common projects, whose ideas were elaborated during the Forum, will be granted. The results will be presented at the 8th General Assembly of the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum in 2018.
Finally, “Europe Lab” alumni are invited to join the young professionals’ platform at the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, to lead and play a role in a number of future initiatives.
Costs for workshops, accommodation, and meals are covered by organisers. Travel costs are borne by participants themselves.
Please submit your application until 1 May 2017 here.
Forum for Young Professionals “Europe Lab” is organised by the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum in cooperation with the European Solidarity Centre and DRA / German-Russian Exchange as well as supported by the European Commission and the Oak Foundation.
