Press release 22.10.2012

Initiative

Euronews and ECAS boost European citizenship

Does anyone really know what European citizenship means? On the eve of the European year of citizens, Euronews and European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) team up to organize a public conference: "Building the EU Citizen Pillar", Monday 5th November, in Brussels.

Brussels, Belgium, 22 October 2012 - The Euronews / ECAS conference is an opportunity to shape the future of European citizenship and to define in a concrete way the common frame linking together the citizens of Europe. This conference will take a holistic view focusing on the broad building blocks of citizenship around Rights, Access and Belonging. It will in particular present the status of the ECI's (European Citizens' Initiatives).

Philippe Cayla, Chairman of Euronews Development said: "Who knows that, in addition to our national citizenship, we have all automatically European citizenship? This conference will examine three aspects: Rights, Access and Belonging. Thanks to a panel of specialists, Europe enthusiasts, I'm confident that we will put forward ideas for the 2013 European Year of Citizens' which is going also to be a great year for recently launched ECIs (European Citizens' Initiatives)".

This is the first major event after the adoption of the EU institutions' plans for the European Year of Citizens on 22 October.

Tony Venables, Director of ECAS added: "We will be examining proposals to improve and speed up enforcement of European rights. A key feature will be what lessons can be learned from the first seven months of European Citizens' Initiatives. Out of 20 tried why has only one started to collect signatures? If no one really understands European citizenship, then 2013 should result in a Charter to explain what it is".

The conference will be Live on www.euronews.com/european-union/

Euronews - ECAS conference: "Building the EU Citizen Pillar" 

Monday 5th of November at 09h30 in Brussels

EESC, 2 rue Van Maerlant - Room VM 3

To attend the conference and to receive more information about the event, please contact:

ECAS

Mária Hanzlíková

[email protected]

tel. +32(0)2 548 04 90

For further information, please contact: 

Euronews                                                        ECAS                           

Grégoire Olivero de Rubiana                               Elisa Bruno

tel. +33 (0)6 60 69 30 34                                   tel. +32(0)2 548 04 90     

[email protected]                    [email protected]

About euronews

euronews, Europe's most watched international news channel, covers world news 24/7. 400 journalists from more than 25 countries produce news in 11 languages services*. euronews is an independent media hub, unique in its approach to analysing facts and presenting the news. Established in 1993 in Lyon in France, the channel reaches 372 million homes in 155 countries and is available via the full range of digital terminals.

* Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Ukrainian

About ECAS

ECAS was created in 1991 as an international non-profit organisation, independent of political parties, commercial interests and the EU Institutions. Our mission is to enable NGOs and individuals to make their voice heard within the EU by providing advice on how to lobby, fundraise, and defend European citizenship rights. We are a large cross-sectoral European association.