Project “Network of Organizations and Towns for the European Elections Network of Organizations and Towns for the European Elections” (NOTE)

Italy – Fattoria Pugliese Diffusa
Spain – Associacion Amigos De Europa
Lithuania – VšĮ Kauno regiono pletros agentūra
Romania – Asociatia Nameless Art
Hungary – International Initiatives for Cooperation
Spain – Ajuntament D’ontinyent
Portugal – Municipio Do Fundao
Croatia – Town Ludberg
Latvia – Kurzemes plānošanas reģions
Poland – LGD “Dolina rzeki Grabi”
Belgium – ECIT Foundation
German – Berlin – assosiated partner

Event “Street Debates: How can I change Europe?”

“Street Debate: How can I change Europe?” was a fun and thought-provoking event organised on Europe Day, with participants from all backgrounds and age groups. Organised to promote open dialogue and civic engagement, the event gave participants the opportunity to discuss and share their unique perspectives on topics related to positive change in Europe.

The event attracted a wide range of people: young and old. Participants came from all walks of life, representing different backgrounds and experiences. This intergenerational mix contributed to a rich and dynamic exchange of ideas, providing valuable insights on how to build a better future for Europe.

The event’s panel discussions covered a range of important topics, including:

European policy-making and collective responsibility to build the future together.
The role of taxation in shaping Europe’s social and economic landscape.
Sustainable transport options and decarbonisation in the fight against climate change.
The importance of fair and transparent competition in sport and various sectors of society.
Promoting gender equality and inclusion across Europe.
The importance of participating in elections to influence policies that affect Europe.
The power of everyday action to build a more sustainable and compassionate Europe.
Promoting sustainable practices, such as green transport choices.
Making travel more affordable and promoting cultural exchanges between European citizens.
Promoting sustainable modes of transport to reduce the carbon footprint.
Individual efforts to reduce carbon footprint and promote a sustainable Europe.
Social innovation and the role that businesses can play in addressing societal challenges.
Advocacy for affordable healthcare and welfare support systems to help the younger generation thrive.
The impact of national improvements on the overall changes in the European Union.

Atmosphere and engagement

The event was enthusiastically received, with participants actively engaging in discussions, sharing their thoughts and experiences. The presence of an enthusiastic audience further enhanced the atmosphere of cooperation, respect and optimism.

The event successfully achieved its objective of promoting open dialogue and citizen participation. Participants left the event empowered and motivated to contribute to positive change in their communities and beyond. It is hoped that the discussions and ideas generated during the event will have a lasting impact as participants will take them back to their spheres of influence.

It was an inspiring and engaging event that brought together people of all ages and backgrounds to discuss how to build a better future for Europe. Through lively discussions and the sharing of valuable insights, the event highlighted the importance of individual action and collective commitment to achieve positive change. The event was a reminder that citizens have an important role to play in shaping Europe’s future, and that if they are actively involved, Europe can work towards a more sustainable, fairer and smarter society. The event was a great success, leaving a lasting impression on all participants and inspiring them to be agents of change in their communities.

Kick-off meeting and activities – European Election Project

Date: 20 February 2023
Event: Kick-off meeting for project partners (online via Zoom)

An internal kick-off meeting for the European Elections project took place on 20 February 2023. The main objectives of the meeting were to introduce the project partners, exchange working experiences, discuss the administrative aspects of the project and highlight the importance of informed participation in the European elections. The meeting was held online via the Zoom platform to facilitate participation from different countries.

Date: 28 February 2023
Event: Mixed open event

The open event took place on 28 February 2023 and was organised in a mixed format, with many participants from Italy attending live and project partners joining online via Zoom. The aim of the event was to connect with a wider audience, in particular the Italian participants, and to raise awareness of the European elections and the objectives of the project.

Date: 7 March 2023
Event: FACEES training session (online via Zoom)

On 7 March 2023, a follow-up event took place: a training session of FACEES, short for “FACilitators for the European ElectionS”, focusing on the application of the “Street Debate” format and guidelines for conducting it. The training was led by Bastien Fillon and aimed at equipping partners with effective tools to promote active citizenship.

Feedback and importance of the events

Based on the feedback gathered from the partners, the kick-off meeting and the open event were very useful. The kick-off meeting provided an opportunity for partners to get to know each other, exchange working practices and understand the administrative aspects and management of the project. Presentations by the partners strengthened the cooperation and helped to better understand the contribution of each organisation.

The open event was effective in encouraging Italian participants to take part in the European elections in an informed way. It provided valuable insights into the workings of the European Parliament and the various opportunities for youth participation. The “Street Debate” session was particularly appreciated as it proved to be an informative and effective tool to encourage active participation and expression.

Overall, the events succeeded in laying a solid foundation for the NOTE project and in creating a sense of mobilisation and enthusiasm among participants. The training provided by FACEES added value by giving partners practical tools to engage young people in active citizenship.

Read the event report in English here.

International conference of the NOTE project “European Election Coordinators”

Date: 15-17 March 2023
Location: Hotel Kolumna Park, Poland

The international conference “Facilitators for European Elections – FACEES” took place from 15-17 March 2023. Representatives from 12 cities from 10 EU Member States met for the first time. The project was led by Fattoria Pugliese Diffusa Associazione Culturale from Italy.

Day 1 – 15 March 2023: Arrival of partners
On the first day, the representatives of the 12 cities arrived at the conference venue, where they were facilitated to network and build relationships between the project partners.

Day 2 – 16 March 2023: International Conference “European Election Coordinators – FACEES”.
The main part of the event was a conference held at the Kolumna Park Hotel, attended by 107 people, including prominent policy makers, local government officials, youth representatives and citizens from the participating cities.

Morning session: “How to encourage young people to vote in the European elections?”
The morning session included a discussion on encouraging young people to participate in the European elections. The expert discussion was attended by invited guests Agnieszka Hanajczyk (Member of the Polish Parliament), Piotr Wołosz (Elder of Leszno), Dariusz Cieślak (Mayor of Sędziejowice), Sylwester Florczak (Vice-Chairman of the Leszno City Council), and the representatives of the partner organisation MUNICIPIO DO FUNDAO. Young people from the Ignacy Paderewski Secondary School Complex in Kolumna were also actively involved in the discussion. The discussion was moderated by Jakub Michałowski, an experienced manager in public administration, consultancy and NGO sector.

Afternoon session: Celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Grabija River Valley LAG
During the afternoon session, Wojciech Olborski, President of the LAG “BUD-UJ RAZEM”, presented the results of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 and the impact on the development of local communities. The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the LAG “Grabija River Valley”. The Chairperson of the Board, Ms Anna Doliwa, presented a summary of the 15 years of the group’s activities and was presented with certificates of appreciation and flowers by various dignitaries and representatives.

Evening session: building a democratic rule of law and a strong civil society
The conference concluded with an educational session led by Jacek Michałowski, psychologist, psychotherapist and lecturer at Collegium Civitas.J. Michałowski, who is also an activist of the 30 Years of Freedom initiative, stressed the importance of values such as freedom, self-government, solidarity, democracy, security and development in building a rule of law democratic state and a strong civil society.

Day 3 – 17 March 2023: Mixed Seminar “Street Debates”
On the last day, a mixed workshop on the participatory approach “Street Debates” was held. Giovanni Bisanti from Fattoria Pugliese Diffusa facilitated the on-site part of the workshop and Bastien Fillon joined virtually via Zoom. The workshop gave partners the opportunity to put the method into practice and improve their understanding of its effectiveness.

The conference and workshop provided a platform for fruitful discussions, valuable insights and closer cooperation between the participating cities. The event reinforced the commitment to promote active participation in the European elections and to contribute to the development of local communities. The sharing of experiences and knowledge between the various representatives laid a solid foundation for future activities of the NOTE project. Participants left the conference with renewed enthusiasm and motivation to work together towards a stronger and more active European civil society.

This online event among the NOTE partner network and local stakeholders and our facilitators team for the next European elections was focused on launching from a wide range a open and debate on fears and expectations related to the citizens and democratic engagement on the next European elections and to share tools and other ways to reach audience on this to raise awareness on citizens voices, not only on Sustainable Development Goals and their role for civic engagement but so for an informed debate among the partners and their stakeholders on how communicate and develop local actions to raise citizens awareness.

The event took place on 18-19 December 2023 and 30 January 2024.

The event was organized by the Fundão municipality.

Read the event report in English here.

On February 21-22, the NOTE (“Network of Organizations and Towns for the European Elections Network of Organizations and Towns for the European Elections”) event for young people took place.

On February 21, the youth had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the activities of the European Parliament, which was presented by the head of the European Parliament office in Lithuania, Daiva Jakaitė. Afterwards, there was a panel discussion moderated by Vytautas Magnus University professor Mindaugas Jurkynas. MEPs Petras Auštrevičius, Rasa Juknevičienė and Bronis Ropė and Guoda Vaitiekutė, coordinator of the “I know what I’m choosing” network, participated in the discussion remotely. Ieva Budraitė, the chairwoman of the Lithuanian Green Party, Vytautas Mitalas, the Deputy Speaker of Seimas, Paulius Maknisevičius, a student of Vytautas the Great University, and Martynas Mikalauskas, a student of Kaunas University of Technology, interacted with the youth in a live discussion.

February 22 the event took place remotely. During the event, the NOTE Toolbox was presented, as well as NOTE podcasts.

Read the event report in English here.

The goal of the event was to develop the NOTE Toolbox contributing to free, informed, and fair Elections in Europe and to sustain a Network of Towns aiming at active citizenship and promotion of informed participation in the European Elections.

During 10-12 April 2024 and 26 April 2024, the core activities represented in the round table with two Candidates for the EP Elections Mrs. Suzana Carp from Belgium and Mrs. Rhia Lopes from Portugal, alongside Mr. Victor Ilie, a Member of the Assembly of Deputies of Romania who discussed the national and international input in the context of the European Elections. 

As a part of this WP, the project team created a Toolbox, intended for local and regional authorities, as well as local actors engaged in promoting EU values. It is designed to inspire local authorities, local promoters, and civil society organizations across Europe to contribute to fair and equal elections. The Toolbox provides concise information on where to find resources that support your efforts to ensure fair and equal elections in Europe, both in the context of the upcoming European elections and for general electoral engagement.

Read the event report in English here.