democratic and civil rights. Putting some of the
issues that are on top of the EU political and policy
colonial legacies for instance?
Like for the current programme, the
agenda in this wider historical perspective — Commission proposal doesn’t go at this level of
understanding where we come from collectively— detail. It only explains that the Fund should increase
can only help to strengthen the values of freedom, ‘citizens’ understanding of the Union, its history,
democracy and human rights. cultural heritage and diversity.’ More detailed
priorities are then decided in subsequent work
This year the European Commission is
discussing the evolution of the programme
after 2020; will the new programme increase its
resources for remembrance projects?
The Commission has proposed on 30 May a
new ‘Justice, Rights and Values Fund’ for the period
2021-2027. The proposed new programme groups
together two current funding programmes, the
programmes adopted by the Commission.
Some voices say that the Europe for Citizens
programme -currently under the Directorate-
General for Migration and Home Affairs- can
shift to another DG. In that case, could the
programme priorities substantially change?
Let’s not mix issues here. What matters
Rights, Equality and Citizenship programme and the ultimately are the programme priorities as proposed
Europe for Citizens programme, in order to bring by the Commission and eventually co-decided by
simplification, mutual reinforcement and increased the two branches of the EU legislative authority i.e.
effectiveness. the European Parliament and Council. Under the
The general objective of this new programme
proposed Rights and Values, citizens’ engagement
is to protect and promote the rights and values and participation is clearly presented as a specific
enshrined in the EU Treaties and the EU Charter of objective of the programme and should focus on
Fundamental Rights. This general objective would be increasing citizens’ understanding of the Union,
achieved through three specific objectives:promoting its history, cultural heritage and diversity. Then,
equality and rights (‘Equality and rights’ strand); how the Commission organises its services to
fighting against all forms of violence (‘Daphne’ manage the said programme comes second —and I
strand); and promoting citizen engagement and would even say is secondary to the extent that the
participation in the life of the Union (‘Citizens’ legitimate political institutions will have defined the
engagement and participation strand’), with the programme priorities and its budget.
focus on increasing citizens’ understanding of the
Union, its history, cultural heritage and diversity,
and promoting exchange and cooperation between
citizens of different countries.
The Commission proposes to allocate €
In what extent the Europe for Citizens program
promotes social participation through the
projects supported by the Agency?
Social participation, citizens’ engagement is
233 million to the ‘Citizens engagement and really at the core of the programme. It is not a ‘top-
participation strand’ (compared with the € 185 down’ institutional communication programme:
million over 2014-2020 for the Europe for Citizens on the contrary it supports ‘bottom-up’ grassroots
programme). Remembrance projects will be funded initiatives and projects. This is true for all our
under this strand. 409 million € should be allocated actions, and in particular for the remembrance
to the Equality and rights strand and the Daphne strand: the programme was not conceived to support
strand. academic research on the European History —
however important this is. It aims at engaging a
Will the new programme broad the timeframe
for memorial projects giving way to initiatives
devoted to other chronologies, such as the
EUROPE INSIGHT
large number of European citizens on this history,
making them discuss, challenge, and ‘own’ their
history.
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