First meeting of partners in the international EASY TOWNS project was held last week in Heist of den Berg in Belgium. 10 European countries are included in the project, and Croatia is represented by Pula and Rijeka. Delegations from Vicenza (Italy), Goza (Malta), Arada (Romania), Pforzheim (Germany), Craigavon (Northern Ireland), Sentjur (Slovenia), L Alfas Del Pia (Spain) and Heist op den Berg (Belgium) were present in the two day conference where they exchanged examples of positive practice in terms of projects including the integration of minorities in day to day life and multicultural tolerance.
Participants also discussed ways to improve conditions for young citizens (15-29) and ways to help them develop both personally and professionally through various specialisation programmes. Since one of the workshops was dedicated to the current migrant and refugee crisis in Europe, all participants expressed their concern with the situation their countries are facing.
On this occasion, the candidature of Rijeka for the European Capital of Culture in 2020 was presented, with a particular emphasis on the topic of “The Port of Diversity” and migration as one of the backbones of the “Rijeka2020” programme.
Easy Towns is a part of the “Europe for Citizens” programme which provides financial support to projects promoting “active European citizenship“. The programme strives to strengthen citizen participation by enabling them to discuss and exchange opinions on the EU, strengthen the European identity, develop a sense of belonging to the EU and promote intercultural dialog among citizens. The Programme is a response to the necessity of more active citizen participation in the construction of Europe and encourages cooperation between citizens and their organisations in different countries with the aim of meeting, common action and developing their own ideas about the European environment, while respecting their mutual differences.
