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Values, Affinities and Sceptisism: the European Identity

2019-2-PT02-KA105-0061242019Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: PT|UK|PL|FR|ES|IT · Grant: €14,305
Civic engagement / responsible citizenshipEU Citizenship, EU awareness and DemocracyCreativity and culture

Objectives

Europe is currently a set of common values ​​and contradictions. The path the Member States have gone through in the past 70 years of history to identify and establish democratic, cultural and economic principles for the benefit of European communities is now facing a turbulent period of ceaselessness regarding the existence and direction of the Union. Euroceticism is identified with the belief that the national identity and sovereignty of the independent Member States are hampered by unnecessary European integration, which favors neo-liberal elitist policies that are not very transparent and democratic, and that is responsible for the austerity and the migratory crises of the last years. Thanks to the establishment of a common market, the monetary union and the free movement of persons, the new generations have always represented the spirit of European identity and of the European citizen, open to the sharing of values, culture and territory. However, economic and political crises have seen Eurosystem and nationalist movements emerge in several countries of the Union, generating mistrust, prejudice and concern in European communities. In addition, the complexity of the topic increases with the access to an enormous amount of information and data through the new technologies, which with the dissemination of fake news undermines the quality of communication and awareness, especially among young people. The distance citizens put from government and supranational decisions, together with the strategic manipulation fostered by fake news, provoke in the young people of many communities uncertainty and isolation from the democratic reality and active citizenship between the Member States of the European Union. Euro-skepticism is already a political doctrine that tries to increase the adhesion on the part of the citizens of the Union, especially of the young people. In this context, it is important to recognize the importance of analyzing concrete data and beliefs, social dialogue and confrontation with present pessimism. Through group dynamics, role-play, debates, dramatizations, creative activities and data analysis and socio-political campaigns, themes such as European identity, fundamental and community rights, strategic policies related to fake news, advantages and disadvantages of the media and the internet, such as responding to the current institutional pessimism, among others. In order to raise citizens' awareness and empower young Europeans for active democratic life, it is necessary to address issues of citizenship and active participation, European values, affinities between Member States and between communities, the issue of abstaining from voting, Eurocetism and the threats of nationalist ideologies, the media and fake news; young people in their communities must learn to identify authentic notions and facts and fake news, and to deal with democratic voting power and the possibilities of active community participation for greater individual and collective awareness. This YE intends to answer the questions related to the European identity and to the cetisismo present in several communities of the Union, having as main objectives: the awareness of the values ​​and the fundamental princes of the European Union; the promulgation of personal and collective affinities present among citizens of different Member States; the identification of manipulative actions and fake news; the promotion of active citizenship and actions to raise awareness of community participation among young people. Participants are expected to become more aware young people and more active community citizens, generating awareness and change in their own communities.

Project partners (6)