Hungary: ‘Our Europe, our debate, our contribution’ project

The ?Our Europe ? Our Debate ? Our Contribution? project is a 5-country regional initiative to answer the challenges Europe face today, foster a direct debate on the future of Europe, to raise awareness and demonstrate public commitment to the notion of building a new Europe for the citizens and to give an opportunity to encourage interaction between citizens from different countries in the process of shaping the renewed EU. The specificity of the project is its regional approach: it involves Austria, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia through local civil society partners. The project pays special attention to inform general public on the impact of various EU policies on citizens? everyday life and at the same time provokes discussions through which citizens can voice their concerns, opinions and proposals on European issues, thereby narrowing the gap, building bridges between citizens and Europe.The project elements respect the national characteristics but at the same time go beyond a national vision and underline the importance of the European added value of the common ?European project?. As we have already reported the launch event of the project took place in Budapest in October 2006 (http://www.vita.it/articolo/index.php3?NEWSID=73068″) and continued with regional events in Bratislava, Slovakia, Ljubljana, Slovenia and Kecskemét, Hungary. Through the different events the project ? among others ? seeks to collect 2500 opinions (500 per country) in total about the EU by autumn 2007. Interested parties can take part in the initiative by answering the 3-question form. If you would like to fill out the questionnaire please visit:www.ourdebate.eu