European Union. The European Academy Network aims to provide European local and regional policy makers, associations and citizens with tools that will support their informed civic and political participation at EU level. IRE was happy to may participate in this project and cordially congratulates the lead partners and the organisation team led by Gosia Wochowska for the interesting project and the successful implementation.

Please find >>> here <<< the final report of the programme.

Information:

The project allowed over 1000 citizens to get engaged in a process that includes real-life activities to experience how EU institutions operate and to understand the subtleties of EU policy making (European Parliament, European Council, Commission, Committee of the Regions, Council of the EU). This allows different groups in society to personally engage in Union policy processes. The European Academy Network moreover spreads good practices of how policy makers and citizens can engage in EU matters, and participate in its making.

The project activities took place between March 2020 and July 2021, engaging partners from 13 countries: Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Montenegro, Poland, and Latvia. By facilitating exchange and policy learning among participants, the project will increase institutional capacities in long-term - a fundamental asset for the future of democracy, taken into consideration nationalistic tendencies in Europe.

Following partners were connected within the European Academy Network:

• BULGARIA: Veliko Tarnovo and Bulgarian Centre for LL
• BELGIUM: ECIT Foundation
• AUSTRIA: Institute of the Regions of Europe
• CROATIA: Agencija za ruralni razvoj Zadarske županije
• HUNGARY: Szodliget Municipality
• SPAIN: La Palma del Condado Municipality
• SLOVENIA: Občina Benedikt
• ITALY: Soveria Mannelli
• POLAND: Local Action Group „Dolina rzeki Grabi”.
• LATVIA: Social Innovation Centre
• MALTA: Luqa City Council
• PORTUGAL: Municipality of Torres Novas
• MONTENEGRO: Municipality of Kolasin

The project « European Academy Network. Encouraging democratic participation at EU level » was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme "Europe for Citizens".