In 2007, the European Commission initiated the programme “Europe for citizens,” calling on all organisations engaged in European politics to pursue actively and persistently programmes suited to make the European Union, its institutions, committees, workings, and representatives, more visible and comprehensible to Europe’s citizens. This initiative by the European Commission has made a major impact, something that became even more pronounced after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Today, the European Union is a democratic, transparent, and highly efficient body, defending and protecting its citizens’ fundamental rights, as well as their freedom, solidarity, and security.

This year the programme “Europe for Citizens” aims to deepen the European ideal in the following ways:

• strengthening European citizenship by promoting the democratic participation of citizens in EU processes
• promoting the appreciation of the EU, its history and diversity
• strengthening historical consciousness and an awareness of our shared history and values

The Heinrich Böll Foundation along with its project partners will continue its involvement in these programmes with their ambitious yet worthwhile goals.

The leading actors within the 2014 programme “Europe for Citizens” are

the Heinrich Böll Foundation with its Berlin headquarters; its international offices in Brussels (seat of the EU Commission and many EU institutions), in Thessaloniki, Greece, Prague, Czech Republic, Warsaw, Poland, Zagreb, Croatia, and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and the Grüne Bildungswerkstatt in Vienna, Austria. Many project partners in EU member states are also participating.