“The European Union and the Promise of Democracy: What can Citizenship Education and Civil Society contribute?”
14-16 November 2013, The Hague (the Netherlands)

Europe’s ongoing economic crisis has engendered a crisis of confidence in the European project and the costs and benefits of further European integration. The democratic deficit of the European Union has now become more and more visible and contributes to the backlash in support for the EU. It has also become very clear now that the economic crisis is dividing Europe and may ultimately lead to the break up of the EU.

Against this background this year´s NECE Conference will deal with resulting challenges for citizenship educators across Europe. With an eye to the elections to the European Parliament in May 2014, NECE 2013 will explore the topics of participation and democratisation and focus on the EU’s democratic deficit for discussing possible consequences and the role for citizenship education.

The conference in The Hague will offer opportunities for a critical debate on four levels:

1. Scenarios and outlines for the future of the EU
2. European civil society and the ‘democratic deficit’ of the European Union
3. Role of citizenship education in the European crisis
4. Practical approaches and projects of citizenship education

Opportunities to actively take part will be provided in numerous workshops, a world café and an open forum. Also, a project market for European models and good practice projects in citizenship education is offered.
At the end of the conference, participants are invited to draw up a public ‘Conference Paper’ with recommendations on the topic of democratisation and participation in the EU.

Conference language is English (without simultaneous translation).

There is no conference fee. The organisers do not cover travel and accommodation costs. Places are limited!
Register here: https://lcem.lab-concepts.de/registration/nece-conference-2013/en

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If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the conference management at:
lab concepts GmbH
on behalf of the Federal Agency for Civic Education, Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30 / 252 932 56
Fax: +49 (0)30 / 252 932 61
E-Mail: nece-thehague2013@lab-concepts.de
Web: www.nece.eu

International conference organised by Europäische Akademie Otzenhausen

Europe and America are interconnected by a long history and common values such as democracy, multiculturalism and human rights. But it seems that an alliance has formed within Europe and America and across the Atlantic of people and organizations who preach intolerance, sow hatred and oppose the benefits of diversity and the equality of all human beings.

This seminar wants to take a closer look at right-wing groups on both sides of the Atlantic, at their ideologies and propaganda, and their attempts to win the hearts and minds of citizens who feel the pain of the recession and thus become susceptible to the populist rhetoric of such groups. After a thorough analysis guided by the most recent research on our seminar topic, we try to formulate common responses that reaffirm the values on which the Atlantic Alliance is built.

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Planning and development for a sustainable and inclusive rural area.

Our Dutch member learn for life offers a Grundtvig Training for Adult Educators in Sneek, The Netherlands in April 2014.

This is your opportunity to learn about successful models for Village Development Plans and Village Visions, to share your experiences in this matter and to obtain useful skills and tools for community development.
Vital Villages is highly relevant for paid and voluntary staff of rural development organisations and institutes for adult education.

Deadline for application is September 17th 2013

Download the flyer for more information

The European Youth Foundation is supporting the involvement of youth representatives in the 2013 edition of the World Forum for Democracy (WFD) “Re-wiring democracy: connecting institutions and citizens in the digital age”.

This second edition of the World Forum for Democracy taking place in Strasbourg 27-29 November will focus on re-connecting citizens with institutions and re-inventing democratic participation in the digital age.

The approach used by the Forum will consist of working groups about experimental initiatives and innovative ideas that have the ambition to amplify citizen voices, increase institutions’ transparency, responsiveness, re-focus on common interest and enable more deliberation and citizen influence on decision-making.

40 young participants will be selected by the Youth Department in order to ensure a visible youth dimension during the World Forum for Democracy (WFD).

If you are interested in participating in this unique annual event, have a look at the Call for participants and fill in the Application form.

Deadline: 9 August 2013