European citizens’ initiative: no EU funds to countries without an independent judiciary and rule of law?
](https://ecas.org/european-citizens-initiative-no-eu-funds-to-countries-without-an-independent-judiciary-and-rule-of-law/) - The European citizens’ initiative "Stop corruption in the EU" proposes a fixed time frame for newly acceded countries to carry out reforms in their judicial systems. It also calls for compliance with the rule of law as a condition for every Member State to receive EU funds. By Veneta Magistrelli, in charge of the “Stop corruption - [ECAS Highlight of the Week - ECAS Awards 2020 "@HOME"](https://ecas.org/ecas-highlight-of-the-week-7/) - "There is no place like home". Freedom of movement gives Europeans the opportunity to work, study or settle down in a different European Union (EU) country then their own. But once they arrive, they can often struggle to get their residence documents on time, to find employment or to access healthcare. They are also often - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - October](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-october/) - In the first week of October, the European Court of Justice delivered an important judgement on the conditions under which an EU citizen may be deprived from their right to vote in the European elections. In addition, Advocate General Cruz Villalón issued two opinions which may have important implications for the right to free movement - [ECI as a tool for democracy workshop](https://ecas.org/jubel-festival-2019/) - On September 6th, as part of the Jubel Festival 2019, the European Citizen Action Service and the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium organised the workshop ECI as a tool for democracy. The interactive workshop aimed to raise awareness on the European Citizens’ Initiative as a tool for participatory democracy at EU level and it - [#MyEUstory: Work Mobility](https://ecas.org/myeustory-work-mobility/) - ECAS and the Lifelong Learning Platform are happy to present the latest #MyEUstory on work mobility! For Josipa Friščić, communications and project assistant at the Erasmus Student Network, being able to work abroad has helped her develop skills and cultural understanding that she wants to bring back to her country and enrich her local community. - [The first issue of the DEMOS newsletter is out, covering populism from new perspectives](https://ecas.org/the-first-issue-of-the-demos-newsletter-is-now-out-covering-populism-from-new-perspectives/) - The Democratic Efficacy and the Varieties of Populism in Europe (DEMOS) team has published its first newsletter, offering insight into the project's approaches to studying populism and the research that has been made so far. [vcex_spacing size="20px"] The selected content of the issue investigates populism through the lenses of democratic efficacy, a new concept that combines attitudinal features (political - [Key messages from the 'Online Disinformation: Finding the silver bullet in the digital world' conference](https://ecas.org/key-messages-from-the-online-disinformation-finding-the-silver-bullet-in-the-digital-world-conference/) - The spread of online disinformation is a threat that can deeply affect our society by hampering the ability of citizens to make informed choices, disrupting electoral processes and breaking the integrity of our democratic institutions. Its complexity represents a challenge that needs to be tackled on multiple fronts and through a more holistic approach. In - [Recommendations for a successful and effective Conference on the Future of Europe](https://ecas.org/recommendations-for-a-successful-and-effective-conference-on-the-future-of-europe/) - The Conference on the Future of Europe, taken up by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presents an important opportunity to strengthen the democratic quality of the discussion on the future of Europe and a possibility to unlock useful reforms of the EU. However, the success of the Conference will strictly depend - [ECAS welcomes new Citizens' Rights Training Coordinator](https://ecas.org/ecas-welcomes-new-citizens-rights-training-coordinator/) - Following a period of reflection in order to re-evaluate and improve its training services, ECAS is excited to welcome its new Citizens' Rights Training Coordinator, David Garcia-Falaux. With extensive knowledge and experience in the field, David will contribute to delivering ECAS's mission of empowering citizens through different innovative methods. Before joining our team in November - [Improvements in the European Citizens’ Initiative Regulation and Procedure Outlined by ECAS Expert](https://ecas.org/improvements-in-the-european-citizens-initiative-regulation-and-procedure-into-effect-in-2020-outlined-by-ecas-expert/) - A flexible timeline, straightforward signature collection, simplified registration and a new, user -friendly forum, are among the major improvements of the European Citizen’s Initiative introduced in 2020 and featured in a new article by ECAS Senior Manager European Democracy, Elisa Lironi. The article was originally published on the European Commission’s specialised European Citizen’s Initiative Forum. Changes in the - [ECAS Releases Call and Recommendations for a Citizen Centric European Union](https://ecas.org/ecas-releases-call-and-recommendations-for-a-citizen-centric-european-union/) - With intensifying calls for European Union (EU) reforms, there is a strong need for coordinated efforts and more synergies between all European stakeholders (institutions, civil society organisations, citizens, businesses and academics). In response, ECAS has published a set of recommendations to the new European Commission and Parliament and Member States, in order to strengthen EU citizen rights and - [ECAS Executive Director: To Create a Real European Public Space, We Need Synergies Among the Different Tools and Methods of Democratic Innovation](https://ecas.org/ecas-executive-director-to-create-a-real-european-public-space-we-need-synergies-among-the-different-tools-and-methods-of-democratic-innovation/) - Following the high voter turn-out in the 2019 European elections, there have been intensifying efforts for better citizen engagement in the EU decision-making process. The European Commission (EC) has proposed new initiatives to do so, among which is the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe, while also improving existing tools already in place, such - ['End the Cage Age' Initiative: The Story Behind the Record-Breaking Numbers](https://ecas.org/end-the-cage-age-initiative-the-story-behind-the-record-breaking-numbers/) - The European Citizens' Initiative 'End the Cage Age' aims to accomplish exactly what its name states - to end the practice of farming animals in cages across the European Union (EU). The growing concern on this issue was reflected in the success of the initiative - in the one-year time frame allowed for the collection - [ECI Day 2020 – what will the future hold for the European Citizens’ Initiative?
](https://ecas.org/end-the-cage-age-initiative-the-story-behind-the-record-breaking-numbers-2/) - By Maarten de Groot and Christian Huesmann, project managers in the Future of Democracy Programme of the Bertelsmann Stiftung; Maarten was a moderator of the morning session of ECI Day 2020 and Christian was a speaker. On 25 February 2020, the 9th edition of the ECI Day took place: ECI organisers, citizens, civil society organisations, - [Empowering EU Citizens: ECAS Impact in Figures 2019](https://ecas.org/empowering-eu-citizens-ecas-impact-in-figures-2019/) - ECAS's work in EU Rights and European Democracy takes a comprehensive approach, aiming to both tackle challenges faced by European citizens when exercising their EU rights and to empower them to be active participants in the decision-making process. Below you can view a summary of the projects and services that contributed to carrying out our - [ECAS and the LLL Platform present #myEUstory](https://ecas.org/myeustory/) - There are generations that remember and know life under past regimes, but do we now take for granted what democracy in the EU brings us? We are excited to present you, in partnership with Lifelong Learning Platform, a series of videos in which citizens share their #MyEUstory by revisiting key values of democracy. We invite you to tell - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - March 2019](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-march-2019/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgments affecting EU citizenship and the area of freedom, security and justice: EU law does not preclude the loss of the nationality of a Member State and, consequently, the loss of citizenship of the EU, where the genuine link between the person - [Take-aways from the Study on Societies outside Metropolises: the role of civil society organisations in facing populism](https://ecas.org/take-aways-from-the-study-on-societies-outside-metropolises-the-role-of-civil-society-organisations-in-facing-populism/) - In an interview for EuroPost, ECAS Executive Director Assya Kavrakova breaks down the insightful findings and take-aways from the Study on Societies outside Metropolises: the role of civil society organisations in facing populism, which was commissioned by the Diversity Group of the European Economic and Social Committee and carried out by ECAS. Access the full article - [DEMOS Website Kicks Off with a Micro-, Meso- and Macro-level Look into Populism](https://ecas.org/demos-website-kicks-off-with-a-micro-meso-and-macro-level-look-into-populism/) - As 'confirmed' by the 2019 European elections results, not only is populism a political factor that shouldn't be ignored, its roots are increasingly branching out into metropolitan and urban societies all across Europe. To face its challenges, it is crucial to go beyond the popular narratives and understand its complexities on a micro-,meso- and macro-level. - [Y…Z…REP2019: The New Generation of the European Union](https://ecas.org/yzrep2019-the-new-generation-of-the-european-union/) - Baby boomers, generations X, Y (millennials) and Z. Not only do these labels identify a certain age group, they also come with a set of characteristics, interests and challenges that has been attributed to each one of them. For the youngest – the Zs – that often includes being both credited with taking a stance - [Your Europe Advice: Entry Procedures is the Most Enquired About Legal Topic in 2018](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-entry-procedures-is-the-most-enquired-about-legal-topic-in-2018/) - On a daily basis, the legal experts of Your Europe Advice (YEA) receive numerous questions that, though always related to EU and national law, cover a variety of issues that EU citizens deal with. In 2018 alone, they replied to 19,194 unique enquiries related to all 28 Member States, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. - [Civil Society Days 2019: Sustainable Democracy in Europe](https://ecas.org/civil-society-days-2019-sustainable-democracy-in-europe/) - On June 12-13, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its annual Civil Society Days 2019 under the theme of Sustainable Democracy in Europe. Over the course of the two days, the more than 300 participants discussed, among other things, the urgency of progress regarding the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a - [Join Our Team: ECAS is Looking for a New Intern](https://ecas.org/join-our-team-ecas-is-looking-for-a-new-intern/) - ECAS Internship Opportunity The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is a Brussels-based international, non-profit organisation with a pan-European membership and 28 years of experience. ECAS mission Empowering citizens in order to create a more inclusive and stronger European Union by: * Promoting and defending citizens’ rights; * Developing and supporting mechanisms to increase citizens’ and - [Voting obstacles, political rights and Brexit: Report from State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2019](https://ecas.org/10969-2/) - Brexit, the rise of populism and the challenges of online disinformation have all tugged at different citizens’ rights, including those at the core of a European citizenship. Being a key election year, it is important to create chances to have a say on the course that the EU is set to take from here on - [We are Europe Academy 2019](https://ecas.org/we-are-europe-academy-2019/) - The 2019 European elections came and went, giving what many hope will be a breath of fresh air into the policies, priorities and direction of the European Union. And while there have been a variety of ideas on ways to do so, there is a unifying one at the basis – the new European Commission - [#EUTakeTheInitiative | Join us in Vienna, Austria on 13 December 2018 for a full-day conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform](https://ecas.org/eutaketheinitiative-join-us-in-vienna-austria-on-13-december-2018-for-a-full-day-conference-on-the-european-citizens-initiative-and-its-reform/) - The #EUTakeTheInitiative Roadshow is heading to Vienna for its final event of the year! On this occasion we are organising a full-day interactive conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform. We hope to meet many of you interested in participatory democracy at the Haus der Europäischen Union on 13 December, 9:30-18:00. We are - [Webinar on helping EU mobile citizens exercise their political rights](https://ecas.org/webinar-on-helping-eu-mobile-citizens-exercise-their-political-rights/) - More than a third of Brussels' inhabitants are foreigners with voting rights in their local elections. But despite many of them working within the EU institutions at the heart of the Continent's democracy, Belgium has close to the lowest voter participation rate among EU citizens in Europe. Why? Which barriers do EU mobile citizens face - [Digital Democracy Day 2019 Topics and Speakers Announced](https://ecas.org/digital-democracy-day-2019-topics-and-speakers-announced/) - DIGITAL DEMOCRACY DAY 2019: HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF TECHNOLOGY IN ELECTIONS ECAS is excited to present the focus, speakers and topics of our Digital Democracy Day 2019! Taking place on March 7th, the event will gather an engaging panel of experts to discuss the use of Information and Communications Technology in involving citizens in elections, with - [ECAS at the 2019 CEPS Ideas Lab](https://ecas.org/ecas-at-the-2019-ceps-ideas-lab/) - On February 21-22nd, CEPS, Europe’s leading independent think tank on EU affairs, held an impressive and high-profile event – the 2019 CEPS Ideas Lab. Taking place in Brussels, it brought together Europe’s top decision makers and thinkers to discuss the most pressing issues confronting the EU. ECAS was also represented by Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova, - [Zooming in on Populism and ‘Conquering’ Back Areas Forgotten by Mainstream Parties](https://ecas.org/zooming-in-on-populism-and-conquering-back-areas-forgotten-by-mainstream-parties/) - Populism can be best described as a complex web of a political approach, appeal, play on fears, promises and tactics. With no single definition, the only clear thing is how unclear the factors that stem its growth are. But is this just another tactic– not being able to identify when you come across it might - [Workshop on Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights](https://ecas.org/workshop-on-fostering-awareness-inclusion-and-recognition-of-eu-mobile-citizens-political-rights/) - The political participation of mobile EU citizens remains limited due to obstacles they face and low political awareness. Their involvement could, however, be enhanced if the obstacles were tackled and concrete facilitating measures were introduced. That was the conclusion of the workshop Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights, which took place - [Alliances are key when campaigning and fundraising for an ECI](https://ecas.org/alliances-are-key-when-campaigning-and-fundraising-for-an-eci/) - A well-known physicist, philosopher and humanist once made an important distinction regarding political campaigns. There are campaigns that work like an avalanche of snow – all you have to do is remove a little snow from the top of the mountain and off it goes. But in most campaigns, you have to carry the snow - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - from December 2018 to February 2019](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-from-december-2018-to-february-2019/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two ECJ judgments affecting access to family benefits by EU mobile citizens, freedom, security and justice. Under EU law, it is not necessary that a person is employed in a Member State at time of claim in order to be entitled to family benefits in respect - [Members Profile - Meet EUROPEUM](https://ecas.org/members-profile-meet-europeum/) - EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent think-tank focusing on European integration and cohesion. It contributes to democracy, security, stability, freedom, and solidarity across Europe as well as to active engagement of the Czech Republic in the European Union. Each year, EUROPEUM and its partner, the Institute of International Relations, - [Forgotten Societies and the Rise of Populism Across Europe](https://ecas.org/forgotten-societies-and-the-rise-of-populism-across-europe/) - Study on “Societies Outside Metropolises: The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Facing Populism”, commissioned by the European Economic and Social Committee and executed by ECAS, looks to better understand the factors influencing citizens' choices in favour of populism in non-metropolitan areas and if CSOs are equipped to counter it. Currently, populism in Europe is at its - [Digital Tools, E-voting and a Changing Democracy: Report from Digital Democracy Day 2019](https://ecas.org/digital-tools-e-voting-and-a-changing-democracy-report-from-digital-democracy-day-2019/) - Digital tools are changing democracy as we know it, bringing along new opportunities, advances and challenges. Online platforms and e-voting practices have given access to the political world where it was lacking before, allowing citizens to be better informed and involved. It was this reality that was reflected at ECAS’ Digital Democracy Day 2019: Harnessing - [Marking of ECI Day 2019: Digital Voices](https://ecas.org/marking-of-eci-day-2019-digital-voices/) - On April 2nd, representatives of the EU Institutions, civil society organisations, activists and other participants came together to mark ECI Day 2019: Digital Voices. With the recent reform of the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) Regulation, it was a timely event that highlighted the changes and importance of the mechanism that enables citizens to influence legislative policies. - [ECAS reacts to Juncker's State of The Union on EU Observer: 'Big on Big Things, Small on Small Things' - How About Citizens?](https://ecas.org/ecas-reacts-to-state-of-the-union/) - ECAS' reaction to Commission President Juncker’s State of the Union speech of 12 September featured in an opinion article on EU Observer, published today. In his speech, President Juncker emphasized the EU's priority to be a strong global actor, the eurozone and security union, however he only mentioned the word 'citizens' 5 times. Moreover nothing - [Once again Sweden fails to comply with EU regulations, says EU Rights Clinic.](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-clinic-files-complaint-to-eu-against-sweden/) - The EU Rights Clinic has again referred Sweden to the European Commission for its failure to abide by EU law. In a second complaint to be filed against Sweden in under a year, this case relates to the failure of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) to issue residence cards to non-EU family members of EU - [Press Release - European Elections 2019: Your Vote Matters and This is How it Will!](https://ecas.org/european-elections-2019-your-vote-matters-and-this-is-how-it-will/) - A multi-lingual platform for democratic participation in the 2019 elections, co-funded by the European Commission, is launched at ECAS’ State of the Union Citizens’ Rights conference. Tomorrow, Tuesday 25th of September, at ECAS’ State of the Union Citizens’ Rights event 2018, the web portal www.yourvotematters.eu will be officially presented to the public. This new and innovative - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - from July to September 2018](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-september-2018-2/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features three ECJ judgments affecting entry and residence facilitation for non-EU partners, social security schemes for posted workers and European arrest warrants. Where an EU citizen returns to his Member State of origin, that Member State must facilitate the entry and residence of the non-EU partner with whom - ["State of the Union Citizens' Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019!" - ECAS' Annual Conference, and Launch of the YouVoteEU platform! #SOTUECAS18](https://ecas.org/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019/) - The conference explored current challenges to freedom of movement and civic engagement, and analysed grassroots actions of civic campaigning and engagement, in view of the 2019 European Elections. On Tuesday 25 September, ECAS held the first edition of its "State of the Union Citizens' Rights", an annual conference aimed at identifying challenges faced by EU - [FAIR EU: first five country reports now available!](https://ecas.org/fair-eu-the-first-five-country-reports-are-now-available/) - We are pleased to announce that the first five country reports, detailing obstacles to political participation of EU mobile citizens, have officially been released. These reports, issued by the GLOBALCIT country experts of the European University Institute cover Austria, Denmark, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia. Some of the obstacles identified include the lack of automatic voter registration - ["The situation of citizens’ rights in Europe has deteriorated since 2015" - said our Director in recent interview](https://ecas.org/the-situation-of-citizens-rights-in-europe-has-deteriorated/) - Executive Director at ECAS, Assya Kavrakova was interviewed by Europe Street News on the state of EU citizenship, current threats to freedom of movement, and the relationship between EU citizenship and free movement. Ms. Kavrakova stated "Free movement, or the right to move, study, work and set up business in other EU countries, is a core - [GLOBSEC Tatra Summit 2018 – ECAS' Executive Director on the impact of Digital Transformation](https://ecas.org/globsec-tatra-summit-2018-ecas-executive-director-on-the-impact-of-digital-transformation/) - On 5-6 October, ECAS’ Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova took part in the high-level GLOBSEC Tatra Summit 2018, a prominent annual conference on the most pressing European political, economic and financial issues. This year’s topical framework focused on the future of the European Union and amongst several topics, participants discussed the complex and interrelated process of - [EU Rights Clinic challenges France’s systematic failure to comply with EU residence formalities](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-clinic-challenges-frances-systematic-failure-to-comply-with-eu-residence-formalities/) - In a complaint submitted this week to the European Commission, the EU Rights Clinic has challenged France’s breach of EU law in its duty to issue residence documents to EU citizens. The complaint points to the systematic failure of French municipal authorities to issue residence documentation, or cartes de séjour, to EU citizens. The complaint - [The EU Rights Clinic most recent complaint to the European Commission features in The Local France](https://ecas.org/the-eu-rights-clinic-most-recent-complaint-thelocal-france/) - The EU Rights Clinic has complained against France for its breach of EU law in issuing residence documents to EU citizens, and has featured in an article by The Local France entitled "Brexit: Worried Brits lodge EU complaint against France for failure to hand out residency permits". More specifically the complaint contains details of over - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019 - Event report](https://ecas.org/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019-event-report/) - On 25 September 2018, ECAS held its first annual State of the Union Citizens' Rights conference: towards the European Elections 2019! The first panel focused on current challenges faced by EU citizens with regard to their rights’ enforcement, and the second panel featured grassroots actions of civic campaigning and engagement. The event also hosted the - [ECAS' workshops feature at the We Are Europe Academy](https://ecas.org/ecas-workshops-feature-at-the-we-are-europe-academy/) - Last weekend, the 2018 edition of the We Are Europe Academy, a training event for civil society activists was held from 9-11 November jointly by ECAS and the Union of European Federalists in Brussels, in the framework of the We are Europe project. This training for CSOs aimed at developing practical skills on political communication, campaigning, - [Your Europe Advice Annual Training Seminar 2018](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-annual-training-seminar-2019/) - This year the YEA Training Seminar took place on 15 and 16 November in Brussels at the European Commission. Around 60 legal experts from all EU Member States attended the training, during which they were informed of the latest developments in EU law, as well as current challenges. Topics mainly concerned free movement rights EU citizens - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - from September to November 2018](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-november-2/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features three ECJ judgments affecting access to social security for posted workers, personal data and Brexit negotiations. A posted worker is covered by the social security system of his place of work if he replaces another posted worker, even if those workers were not posted by the same - [Citizens enquire about their passenger rights on Your Europe Advice Facebook chat](https://ecas.org/yea-business-questions-facebook-chat-2-2/) - On 20 November, legal experts from the Your Europe Advice service, took part in a Facebook chat on passenger rights in the EU. Last week's chat on passenger rights reached over 100.000 users, as experts from Your Europe Advice replied to a total of 43 questions in two hours. Answers were provided in English, French, German and - [ECAS' Executive Director at the 2018 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights](https://ecas.org/ecas-executive-director-at-the-2018-annual-colloquium-on-fundamental-rights/) - On 26 and 27 November, ECAS’ Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova took part in the 2018 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights: Democracy in the EU. The event brought together national and EU policymakers, international organisations, civil society organisations, media and social media representatives, academics and legal professionals to identify ways to foster and renew democratic engagement at a time - [Your Europe Advice To be Included in Digital Single Gateway](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-is-to-be-included-in-digital-single-gateway/) - In agreement with the European Parliament, the Bulgarian Presidency has agreed to set up a Digital Single Gateway, a user-friendly, multilingual database containing all services for citizens and businesses at EU level. The article issued by Sofia News Agency mentions services which will be included in the new database including Your Europe Advice, an EU advice service provided - [Brussels Elections Countdown: All EU Mobile Citizens Need to Know](https://ecas.org/brussels-elections-countdown-eu-mobile-citizens-must/) - With only one month left to register to vote in the Brussels local elections, we would like to take the opportunity to remind all EU mobile citizens residing in how and why they should vote in October 2018. Under the FAIREU project (an EU project coordinated by ECAS in partnership with MPG, EUI, ALDA, and - [Brexit, EU Citizens and the Settlement Scheme: What We Know So Far](https://ecas.org/brexit-eu-citizens-and-the-settlement-scheme-what-we-know-so-far/) - Today the Brexit Steering Group of the European Parliament responded to the statement of intent released by the British Government on 21 June, which outlined a proposed settlement scheme for EU citizens and their family members living in the UK. The aim of the statement of intent was to indicate the conditions for eligibility for EU - [ECAS' Executive Director Features in Interview by ECI Team](https://ecas.org/ecas-executive-director-features-in-interview-by-eci-team/) - During an interview with the European Citizens' Initiative team, our Executive Director Assya Kavrakova described ECAS' role in helping to develop the ECI into an effective instrument of participatory democracy. Ms. Kavrakova described the ECI as "the first transnational participatory democracy mechanism, not only in Europe, but worldwide", adding however that its potential for agenda-setting - [EU Rights Clinic Petition Urges the European Parliament to Ensure Stronger Protection of Citizens’ Rights After Brexit](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-clinic-petition-urges-the-european-parliament-to-ensure-stronger-protection-of-citizens-rights-after-brexit/) - This week, the EU Rights Clinic, ECAS and 80 signatories submitted a petition calling the European Parliament to immediate action, to address specific gaps and omissions still featuring in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, concerning the protection of some categories of citizens’ rights after the Brexit date. Given the lack of progress in handling citizens rights’ protection, - [Procedural Steps and Drafting an Initiative Were Key Issues Covered in the First Webinar on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)](https://ecas.org/eci-forum-webinar/) - The ECI is the the first transnational participatory democracy tool for citizens, not only in Europe, but worldwide. To help make the process of organising an ECI as accessible and simple for citizens, last month ECAS hosted the first of a series of webinars, which are being held in the framework of the ECI Forum - [Save the Date for our Conference "State of the Union Citizens' Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019" on 25 September](https://ecas.org/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019-on-25-september/) - Freedom of movement is one of the most cherished fundamental freedoms of the European Union. Together with the right to political participation they constitute the main building blocks of the EU Citizenship. According to the Spring 2018 Eurobarometer, the majority of Europeans are optimistic about the future of the EU. Yet, as ECAS’ research has proved, free - [YouVoteEU: the New Platform for the 2019 European Elections and Beyond!](https://ecas.org/the-new-platform-for-the-2019-european-elections-and-beyond/) - The next European elections are just around the corner. As a citizen, are you already wondering how to make sure that the issues you care about are represented in the election campaign? As a civil society organisation, are you wondering how to reach out to citizens and and get them on your side while trying - [EU Rights Clinic Petition for More Citizens' Rights Protection Features in Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/petition-for-more-citizens-rights-protection-after-brexit/) - On 9 July the EU Rights Clinic, ECAS and 80 signatories submitted a petition calling the European Parliament to immediate action, to address specific gaps and omissions still featuring in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, concerning the protection of some categories of citizens’ rights after the Brexit date. The Petition has featured in articles published on - [Our Director's Participation at "Post-Brexit Europe: What's Next for Youth Mobility?"](https://ecas.org/youth-mobility-post-brexit/) - Last month, the event entitled Post-Brexit Europe: What's Next for Youth Mobility? hosted by Volonteurope and Volunteering Matters gathered experts, campaigners and volunteers actively working to ensure that the rights of young people are protected after Brexit negotiations. As a speaker on the panel entitled "Campaigns information and advocacy for the future of mobility", our Director Assya - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - July 2018](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-july-2018/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features three ECJ judgments affecting freedom of residence for EU citizens and their spouses of the same sex, change of gender and retirement pension, and entry and residence facilitation for non-EU partners. The term ‘spouse’ within the meaning of the provisions of EU law on freedom of residence - [Two new workshops available at ECAS' Training Centre!](https://ecas.org/registration-for-ecas-training-modules-open/) - ECAS' Training Centre has opened registration for our Autumn workshops, which will also include two brand new modules on EU Project Writing and Post-2020 EU Policy and Funding! All workshops will be held at our headquarters in Brussels. Do you need to improve your skills for fundraising at EU level? Are you looking to increase competences to - [ECAS launches its own crowdsourcing platform!](https://ecas.org/ecas-launches-its-own-crowdsourcing-platform/) - We at ECAS are proud to announce that we have launched our very own crowdsourcing platform! Its activities will be aimed at crowdsourcing citizens' opinions on a number of different subjects by issuing questionnaires. The first questionnaire is launched under the framework of FAIR EU, a project aimed at fostering the successful inclusion of mobile EU - [EU Budget 2021-2027: More Erasmus+, Less e-Democracy](https://ecas.org/eu-budget-2021-2027-more-erasmus-less-e-democracy/) - ECAS has taken note of the European Commission's proposal for a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. Budget details were released on Wednesday 2 May. If approved the new budget will introduce several changes which will benefit young people in particular. In this regard, ECAS has noted the increase in funds for Erasmus+. An extra 12.1% will be - [Citizens Panel Forms First Online Public Consultation](https://ecas.org/citizens-panel-forms-first-online-public-consultation/) - For the first time in EU history a group of European citizens from 27 Member States were invited to form the European Citizens' Panel on the Future of Europe. The purpose of this panel was to co-create an online public consultation containing a total of 12 questions, drafted by the citizens themselves. The questions of - [ECAS Signs Letter to EU Leaders to Encourage EU Mobile Citizens to Vote in Local Elections](https://ecas.org/ecas-signs-letter-to-eu-leaders-to-encourage-eu-mobile/) - Yesterday, ECAS and the Migration Policy Group (MPG) have jointly submitted a letter to EU leaders Presidents Jean-Claude Juncker, Luca Jahier, Antonio Tajani, and Karl-Heinz Lambertz encouraging them to help raise awareness of the municipal elections in October 2018, and encourage EU citizens to register to vote. The letter underlines the impact that additional support from - [Registration for ECAS' Training Modules in EU Fundraising, Project Management and Advocacy Is Now Open](https://ecas.org/registration-for-ecas-training-modules-in-eu-fundraising-project-management-and-advocacy-is-now-open/) - ECAS has opened registration for three advanced training workshops, which will cover EU fundraising, project management and advocacy at EU-level. The workshops will be held at our headquarters in Brussels. Do you need to improve your skills for fundraising at EU level? Are you looking to increase competences to successfully plan, lead and manage European projects? - [The Newly Launched ECI Forum Provides User-Friendly Advice and Information to ECI Organisers](https://ecas.org/eci-forum-launch/) - We are pleased to announce that the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Forum is up and running! The ECI Forum is a pilot project, an online collaborative platform operated by a consortium of three organisations – European Service Network (ESN), ECAS and CARSA – on behalf of and under contract with the European Commission. The purpose of the Forum is - [ECI Watch May](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-may/) - Read the ECI Watch here. BREAKING NEWS! - Launch of the new European Citizens' Initiative Forum ! PAST EVENTS - ECI DAY 2018: working together - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - May 2018](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-may-2018/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features two ECJ judgments and an opinion affecting requests for family reunification, enhanced protection against expulsion of EU citizens and the right to entry and residence of non-EU partners when an EU citizen returns to his home Member State. Requests for family reunification must be - [Civil Society Days 2018: More E-Tools To Increase Civic Engagement](https://ecas.org/civil-society-days-2018-more-e-tools-to-increase-civic-engagement/) - On 24 and 25 May the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted Civil Society Days 2018: Citizenship, Democracy and Culture in Digitalised Europe, which saw the participation of over 220 civil society organisations and citizens from across Europe. ECAS and Volonteurope hosted one of the six workshops of the event, which was entitled The Digital Democracy Battle: Defend your tool - [ECAS' Brexit Takeaways Continue to Feature in Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/ecas-brexit-takeaways-keep-featuring-in-media-outlets/) - Last week, ECAS featured in the UK Business Insider, quoting information on free movement rights extracted from our 2017 study '5 Takeaways on Brexit'. The infographic reporting citizens' rights in EU relations (designed by Margherita Gagliardi), originally featured in Europe Street News (full list below). Last year, ECAS joined efforts with three other partners – New - [FAIREU Project: Open Call for Legal Experts](https://ecas.org/faireu-project-open-call-for-legal-experts/) - As part of the FAIR EU project, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is currently looking for 6 legal experts in the field of free movement and political rights based in the following countries: Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Luxembourg. Their main task will be to organize focus groups (one per country) in order - [Open Letter: European Parliament, Make the ECI work!](https://ecas.org/open-letter-european-parliament-make-the-eci-work/) - On 20 June, the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) of the European Parliament will cast a vote of crucial importance for the future of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). With this open letter signed by ECAS and 64 co-signatories (15 ECIs & 50 CSOs), civil society organisations and former ECI organisers call upon the European Parliament - [A New Communication on the Citizenship Directive is Needed](https://ecas.org/a-new-communication-on-the-citizenship-directive-is-needed/) - Following the ECJ case law of 5 June 2018 ruling the recognition of residence rights for same-sex spouses living in the EU, ECAS encourages the Commission to take this case law into account and promptly issue an up-to-date Communication on the Citizenship directive. Last week the European Court of Justice recognized freedom of residence for - [European Civic Days 2018: Citizenship – Participation – Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!](https://ecas.org/european-civic-days-2018-citizenship-participation-policies-building-europe-from-grassroots-up/) - On 29 and 30 May the annual European Civic Days conference entitled "Citizenship – Participation – Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!" took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event was hosted by the Citizen Participation Forum, under the patronage of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and it was hosted by ECAS, the European Civic Forum - [UK and EU Citizens Still Struggle to Obtain Residence Documents in France](https://ecas.org/uk-and-eu-citizens-still-struggle-to-obtain-residence-documents-in-france/) - Acquiring temporary and permanent residence documents is still a burdensome matter, and a serious obstacle to free movement rights, especially for UK nationals. In France there is no requirement for EU nationals to register for a residence card. French law however, rules that they can apply for a residence document if they wish and EU - [AFCO Committee Approves Proposed ECI Reform](https://ecas.org/afco-committee-approves-proposed-eci-reform/) - Yesterday the Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) Committee approved the proposal for the revision of the ECI, but rejected an important amendment on the European Parliament’s commitment in the follow-up process. This caused disappointed reactions from a network of 71 civil society organizations, including ECAS, who had signed and circulated a joint open letter to the European - [ECAS Welcomes Council’s Approval to Revise Current Social Security Systems](https://ecas.org/ecas-welcomes-councils-approval-to-revise-current-social-security-systems/) - ECAS is pleased that the Council of the EU has confirmed its general approach on the coordination of current social security systems. This new coordination will aim at revising regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 in order to harmonize social security systems in EU Member States. ECAS especially welcomes the commitment to ensure legal clarity for economically - [Digital Democracy Day 2018 - Crowdsourcing EU Legislation: Taking Decisions With EU Citizens and Not For Them!](https://ecas.org/digital-democracy-day-2017-photos-2/) - On February 27th, ECAS held its fourth Digital Democracy Day. Despite the cold weather and the national strike the event was a great success: a big thank you to all those who attended or followed us on the livestream! Digital Democracy Day 2018: Crowdsourcing EU Legislation: Taking Decisions With EU Citizens and Not For Them! was - [Your Europe Advice Facebook Chat reaches 1.2 Million People](https://ecas.org/yea-business-questions-facebook-chat-2/) - On 26 February, legal experts from the Your Europe Advice service, which ECAS manages on behalf of the European Commission, took part in a Facebook chat on setting up a business in another EU country. Over 2300 users followed the chat live, as experts from Your Europe Advice, and the European Commission’s Executive Agency for - [Event Report - Digital Democracy Day 2018](https://ecas.org/event-report-digital-democracy-day-2017-2/) - On 27 February 2018, ECAS held its fourth annual Digital Democracy Day - Crowdsourcing EU Legislation: Taking Decisions With EU Citizens and Not For Them! Digital Democracy Day 2018 was organized in the framework of the EUCROWD project, under the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Commission. The first panel of the event gave an overview - [ECAS Activities of 2017: A Review](https://ecas.org/ecas-activities-2017-review/) - The harder the challenge, the stronger the outcome Over the past year political turmoil has posed a great deal of uncertainty not to mention significant challenges for the issue of citizens’ rights throughout Europe. Despite these crisis-driven times the length of our 2017 activities proves ECAS is not merely able, but extremely well-equipped to meet - [ECAS is Among the Finalists For Advocate Europe Challenge!](https://ecas.org/trilogues-project-advocate-europe-shortlist/) - We are delighted to announce that out of 472 proposals our project "Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let’s build a more Democratic EU!" submitted by ECAS and VoteWatch Europe has been shortlisted for the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp! ECAS and 30 other shortlisted candidates have been invited to present our ideas at the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp in Kiev, - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - March 2018](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-march-2018/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features three ECJ rulings affecting the right of national courts to disregard social security certificates obtained fraudulently, the compensation for delays in the case of connecting flights and public access to information concerning ongoing co-decision procedures submitted to trilogues. National courts may, in cases of - [Obstacles to Entry and Residence Rights Still a Burden to EU Mobile Citizens](https://ecas.org/obstacles-to-entry-and-residence-rights-still-a-burden-to-eu-mobile-citizens/) - ECAS’ latest report entitled “Freedom of Movement in the EU: A Look Behind The Curtain” looks at the difficulties EU citizens and their family members face with regard to entry and residence rights in another EU country. Freedom of movement and residence for EU nationals and non-EU family members has been a highly cherished accomplishment - [Open Call for Development of Crowdsourcing Platform](https://ecas.org/crowdsourcing-platform-call/) - As part of the FAIR EU project, ECAS is developing an online crowdsourcing platform for soliciting the opinions of EU mobile citizens on the obstacles to free movement and political participation they have encountered, as well as suggestions for solutions and examples of best practices. We're looking for someone to develop and maintain an open - [Press Release: Pension, entry and residence rights are key concerns in the 2017 Annual Trends Report](https://ecas.org/pension-entry-and-residence-rights-are-among-the-key-concerns-in-the-2017-your-europe-advice-annual-trends-report/) - Topics related to social security rights continued to be the most problematic for EU citizens. Enquiries related to residence rights increased by 3.4% compared to 2016. These largely concerned non-EU family members who are still experiencing difficulties when moving to another Member State. These topics are summarized in ECAS’ recently published Annual Trends Report, which - [ECAS Advocates for More Transparency of EU Trilogues at the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp](https://ecas.org/advocate-europe-challenge-camp/) - ECAS presented a project idea aimed at making EU Trilogues more transparent and accessible to citizens by encouraging civic engagement at the Idea Challenge Camp, held in Kyiv. Having been shortlisted out of 472 applicants, ECAS participated at the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp in Kyiv from 25 to 29 April together with 30 other civil - [Obstacles to Political Rights of EU Citizens - Survey Report](https://ecas.org/obstacles-political-rights-eu-citizens/) - What are the main drivers and obstacles to the political participation of mobile EU citizens in their host country and how could participation levels be improved? As part of the One-stop-shops for the political participation of mobile EU citizens project, the European Citizen Action Service and the Migration Policy Group conducted a survey to gather the key - [ECAS Webinar on VAT](https://ecas.org/ecas-webinar-european-vat/) - On 7 December, ECAS hosted a webinar with Tim Hayes, Policy Officer at the European Commission's Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union to train Your Europe Advice's legal experts on the latest cross-border VAT issues and the basic VAT rules that apply under EU law. The webinar started with a presentation covering different topics - [ECAS' Work Programme 2018 - Empowering Citizens and Enhancing Participation](https://ecas.org/ecas-work-programme-2018/) - In 2018, ECAS will be actively defending and advocating for EU citizens' rights, as well as seeking to enhance democratic engagement and participation in EU decision-making and providing training and services to civil society organisations. Activities for the year incorporate EU projects, services to citizens, advocacy and awareness-raising, research and analysis, events in our focus - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - January 2018](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-january-2018/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features one ECJ opinion and one ruling affecting, respectively, the freedom of residence of EU citizens and their spouses of the same sex and the status of ‘self-employed person’ for the purposes of the free movement directive. An EU citizen who, after more than one year, has ceased - [Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let’s build a more Democratic EU!](https://ecas.org/trilogues-project-advocate-europe/) - On 12 January 2017, ECAS and VoteWatch Europe submitted the project idea "Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let’s build a more Democratic EU!" to Advocate Europe, an idea challenge that calls on civil society actors to propose unconventional and transnational project proposals aimed at strengthening democracy in EU and responding to present challenges emerging at EU level. Our - [EU Rights Clinic Calls for Further Protections of Citizens' Rights in Phase 2 of Brexit Negotiations](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-clinic-brexit-letter-tusk/) - The EU Rights Clinic has submitted a letter to President of the European Council Donald Tusk calling on the Council to instruct the European Commission to continue negotiations on citizens’ rights in the second phase of Brexit negotiations and to address those matters related to citizens’ rights that were not addressed in the interim deal that concluded - [FAIR EU: A Citizen-Centric Approach to Political Participation and Free Movement Rights](https://ecas.org/fair-eu-project-launch/) - On 2 February 2018 ECAS launched FAIR EU (Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights), a project aimed at the successful inclusion of EU mobile citizens in their host EU country’s civic and political life. The project aims at developing a holistic approach to identify and tackle obstacles to free movement rights and - [ECAS Backs Call for Transnational Lists for European Parliament Elections](https://ecas.org/transnational-lists-petition/) - In partnership with WeMove.EU, European Alternatives and The Good Lobby, ECAS has called for transnational lists for the European Parliament elections in 2019. The petition launched on 5 February by WeMove.EU and backed by ECAS calls for “real representation” of EU citizens in the European Parliament by making some MEPs accountable to all Europeans, rather - [You Vote EU: Increasing Voter Turnout by Connecting Citizens to EU Policy](https://ecas.org/vote-eu-increasing-voter-turnout-connecting-citizens-eu-policy/) - Last week ECAS hosted the launch of You Vote EU, a project aimed at stimulating citizens political participation in the 2019 European Parliament elections by increasing understanding of current and future EU policies. You Vote EU is coordinated by Italian organisation Riparte il Futuro, in partnership with VoteWatch Europe (Belgium), Vouliwatch (Greece) and Collegium Civitas (Poland). The project was triggered with a view - [ECI Watch December](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-december/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - A Brief History of the ECI: Summing Up 2016 THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Signature Collection Open for two ECIs - [EU Public Consultations in the Digital Age: Enhancing the Role of the EESC and Civil Society Organisations](https://ecas.org/consultations-eu-study/) - EU online public consultations are used as a tool to foster transparency at EU level and offer an opportunity to both civil society and European citizens to participate in the EU decision-making process. They are generally run by the European Commission, which tries to legitimate its actions and reduce the democratic deficit by taking into - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - November 2017](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-november/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features two ECJ opinions and one ruling affecting the E 101 social security certificate for posted workers, the jurisdictional consumer privilege and the derived right of residence of non-EU national family members of EU citizens. According to Advocate General Saugmandsgaard Øe, a national court may, - [Youth Mobility and Erasmus+ – Live Chat with Lloyd Huitson](https://ecas.org/erasmus-live-chat/) - On 27 November, as part of the DEEP-linking Youth project, ECAS and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) held a live chat with Lloyd Huitson, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Education and Culture. The Facebook chat was organised in order to promote more interactions between young citizens and policy-makers, allowing participants to put questions about youth - [Brexit’s Forgotten Citizens: Alternatives to EU Citizenship for ‘Static’ UK Nationals](https://ecas.org/brexit-loss-eu-citizenship-study/) - Following the UK's Brexit referendum on 23 June 2016 and the vote to leave the EU, the rights and status of UK nationals living in the EU27 and EU nationals has been the subject of much debate. Yet, whilst the right to reside has been much discussed, the legal consequences of Brexit for EU Citizenship demands - [EU and UK Finally Reach Agreement on Citizens’ Post-Brexit Rights](https://ecas.org/brexit-citizens-rights-agreement/) - After months of protracted and painful negotiations, there is finally a deal in the Brexit negotiations on citizens’ rights. The rights of EU citizens in the UK – and UK citizens in the EU – to live, work and study will remain the same, and they will retain the right to family reunification, healthcare and - [EU Citizens’ Rights and EU Citizenship Loss under the Brexit Divorce Deal](https://ecas.org/brexit-divorce-citizens-rights/) - On Friday 8 December, negotiators for the UK and EU released a joint report on stage one of the Brexit negotiations, detailing, among other things, the post-Brexit prospects for EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU. Friday’s terms go several steps further than a UK government paper issued last June on - [ECAS Christmas Cocktail 2017 - A Celebration with Friends](https://ecas.org/ecas-christmas-cocktail-2017/) - On 5 December, ECAS held its annual Christmas Cocktail to celebrate the achievements of 2017 with friends and supporters and to look forward to the new challenges ahead. Guests included ECAS’ board members and partners, representatives of the European Commission and colleagues from fellow civil society organisations. In her welcoming speech, ECAS’ Executive Director, Assya - [EU Rights Clinic Calls For Rights of Family Members and Carers of EU Citizens to be Safeguarded Post-Brexit](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-clinic-brexit-rights/) - Today, as part of the EU Rights Clinic, ECAS has submitted letters to the European Commission's Taskforce on Article 50 and the European Parliament's Brexit Steering Group to express concerns about the protections granted to the rights of EU citizens and their family members and carers living in the UK following the recent agreement reached by the - [REFIT Platform Calls for New Communication on Citizenship Directive](https://ecas.org/refit-opinion-citizenship-directive/) - The European Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) platform has called on the Commission to adopt a new Communication clarifying certain grey areas in Directive 2004/38/EC on residence rights in order to improve and harmonise the implementation of the Citizenship Directive at national level. On 23 November 2017, Members of the REFIT Platform adopted an opinion recommending the Commission issue - [EU Rights Clinic's Complaint Against Sweden Features in Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/sweden-complaint-personnummer-media-outlets/) - On 14 November, The EU Rights Clinic submitted a complaint to the European Commission against Sweden for the refusal of the Swedish tax authorities to issue a personal identification number – ‘personnummer’ – to EU citizens and their family members living in Sweden, preventing them from engaging in everyday life in Sweden. The complaint has - [Charles Goerens: We Should Never Say No to Associate Citizenship](https://ecas.org/charles-goerens-brexit-interview/) - The Brexit negotiations to date have focused on the rights of ‘mobile’ EU and UK nationals - that is, EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU27 - whilst the rights of 'static' UK nationals, those who have not exercised their right to free movement, have been left for the second stage - [ECI Watch August](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-august/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - ECAS Asks the Commission to Make the ECI 'Fit for Purpose' ARTICLE ON ECI IN BBE NEWSLETTER - The European Citizens' Initiative: Now, Then and What Lies Ahead THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Commission registers new ECIs: 'Let'sFly2Europe' and 'People4Soil' PETITION TO REFORM ECI: THE FINAL CALL - [ECI Watch October](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-october/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - Commission's 2017 Work Programme: Still No Progress on the ECI PETITION TO REFORM ECI - Petition Handover: European Commission, Listen to the People! RTBF/EURANET-TIME FOR A REVIEW? - ECAS debating with MEPs on the Challenges of the ECI THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Signature Collection Open for Three New ECIs - [E-Participation Guidelines for Decision-Makers: Social Listening Through the Digital Dashboard](https://ecas.org/eparticipation-guidelines/) - As part of the DEEP-linking Youth project, ECAS has developed a set of guidelines for decision-makers on how to use e-participation as an instrument to engage young people and stimulate their active participation in democratic life. The guidelines are based on the outcomes of the project, which involved examining different ways to reach out to - [Recommendations on Learning Mobility: Insights from the Digital Dashboard](https://ecas.org/learning-mobility-recommendations/) - As part of the DEEP-linking Youth project, ECAS has developed a set of recommendations for decision-makers on how to improve learning mobility programmes for young people in Europe. The recommendations, based on the challenges to learning mobility that were identified through monitoring of our Digital Dashboard, research conducted by the Erasmus Student Network, 'Boot Camps' with young - [Work Programme 2018: A Union of States and a Union of Citizens?](https://ecas.org/work-programme-2018/) - On 24 October, President Jean-Claude Juncker presented the Commission’s 2018 Work Programme to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, putting citizens at the centre of the Commission’s proposals for economic growth and job creation, security, consumer rights, migration and social security. Continuing the citizen-focused tone of the State of the Union address in September (24 mentions - [Webinar: Life Beyond Brexit](https://ecas.org/webinar-life-beyond-brexit/) - On Tuesday November 7, ECAS' Executive Director Assya Kavrakova will take part in the webinar 'Life Beyond Brexit: How Are Negotiations Faring Over Rights for UK Citizens in the European Union?' organised by Migration Policy Institute (MPI). The webinar will feature an expert discussion of the state of citizens' rights within the Brexit negotiations, will take - [Video: Life Beyond Brexit Webinar](https://ecas.org/life-beyond-brexit-video/) - On 7 November 2017, ECAS' Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova, took part in the webinar 'Life Beyond Brexit: How Are Negotiations Faring Over Rights for UK Citizens in the European Union?' living in the EU27, discussing the priorities and concerns of UK citizens based on ECAS' survey 'What Do Citizens Want From Brexit?' The webinar, organised by Migration - [Press Release: EU Rights Clinic Refers Sweden to Commission for Breach of Free Movement Rules](https://ecas.org/free-movement-sweden-complaint/) - Today, the EU Rights Clinic has submitted a complaint to the European Commission against Sweden for the refusal of the Swedish tax authorities to issue a personal identification number – ‘personnummer’ – to EU citizens and their family members living in Sweden, preventing them from engaging in everyday life in Sweden. A personnummer is essential - [Event Report - Digital Democracy Day 2017](https://ecas.org/event-report-digital-democracy-day-2017/) - On 17 October 2017, ECAS held its third annual Digital Democracy Day - Rejuvenating Europe: Opportunities in the Digital World – focusing on identifying the most common challenges to youth participation in European policy-making and proposing several concrete solutions to them by using digital tools. The event represented the final conference of the Erasmus+ project Deep-linking - [Network in Focus 2017: Key Concerns of Citizens Affected By Brexit](https://ecas.org/network-focus-key-concerns-brexit/) - ECAS has featured in the European Network of Ombudsmen's annual 'Network in Focus' magazine, published on 9 November 2017. Following the presentation of the results of the survey 'What Do Citizens Want From Brexit?' at the European Network of Ombudsmen conference in June 2017 by ECAS' Executive Director Assya Kavrakova (see video below), ECAS provided an - [Brexit & the European Arrest Warrant: How Will Change Affect the Interests of Citizens?](https://ecas.org/european-arrest-warrant-brexit/) - The UK's decision to leave the EU on 23 June 2016 and the triggering of Article 50 TEU to start the process on 29 March 2017 were decisive moments in British and European history, with great consequences for the relationship and coordination between the two across many policy areas. The 'Area of Freedom, Security and - [REFIT Platform Calls For ID Card Harmonisation](https://ecas.org/refit-id-card-opinion/) - The European Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) platform has called on the Commission to look into harmonising ID and travel documents to facilitate free movement and tackle problems faced by EU mobile citizens when moving to another Member State. In an adopted opinion largely based on enquiries received by the Your Europe Advice service, - [Meet Our Digital Competition Winners](https://ecas.org/digital-competition-winners/) - We are pleased to announce the winners of our DEEP-linking Youth digital competition, who will be invited to our 2017 Digital Democracy Day on October 17 to showcase their entries. There were many impressive entries, but there could only be six winners. We would, however, like to thank everyone who took part for engaging in the project - [Leaked UK Immigration Policy Strains Brexit Negotiations](https://ecas.org/brexit-immigration-policy-leak/) - Last week, following the end of the third round of Brexit talks, a UK government document was leaked to the Guardian, revealing UK plans to end free movement of people immediately after Brexit, institute a ‘Britain first’ immigration policy and reduce “the opportunity for workers to settle long-term in the UK”. The leaked document reiterated - [A 'Citizen Scenario' for the Future of Europe - ECAS Opinion in EU Observer](https://ecas.org/citizen-scenario-future-europe/) - On 13 September, ECAS' response to President Juncker's State of the Union address featured in EU Observer, setting out the need for a 'citizen scenario' for the future of Europe. In his address, President Juncker outlined his own "scenario six", emphasising freedom, equality and the rule of law and speaking positively about strengthening European democracy, - [Reform Proposal Promises to Make ECI 'Fit for Purpose'](https://ecas.org/eci-reform/) - Following a State of the Union address that placed democracy at the heart of the EU’s agenda, on 13 September 2017 the Commission published a promising reform proposal to improve the European Citizens Initiative (ECI). This decision was taken by First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who has stated that delivering ECI reform is an important priority - [EU Rights in the Spotlight – September 2017](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-sept-2017/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features two rulings affecting the right of air crew members to bring disputes on employment contracts before the courts of the place where they habitually carry out their work and the right of airline passengers to obtain compensation in the event of a long delay - [Free Movement Activist Training Kicks Off in Warsaw](https://ecas.org/act-free-movement-warsaw/) - On 18-20 September, the ACT for Free Movement training series kicked off in Warsaw, with 17 free movement activists from across Europe joining the European Alternatives, ECAS and Krytyka Polityczna for three days of intensive training on EU citizenship, free movement rights, rights’ enforcement and campaigning. Activists from universities, NGOs and the legal profession all - [Brexit Guarantee to EU Citizens at Odds with Rising Discrimination](https://ecas.org/brexit-florence-discrimination/) - In a speech in Florence on September 22, UK Prime Minister Theresa May gave her strongest assurances yet that citizens’ rights would be secured after Brexit, but her words are unlikely to reassure EU citizens in the UK who have suffered a steep rise in discrimination after the Brexit vote. Striking a more conciliatory tone - [Digital Democracy Could Engage Citizens in Europe - ECAS' Director in Europe's World](https://ecas.org/ecas-director-europes-world/) - On 2 October, Europe's World featured an article by ECAS' Director Assya Kavrakova on democracy in the digital age and the potential role digital technologies can play in enhancing citizen participation and youth engagement at EU level. In her contribution, she introduced a number of digital initiatives that have been employed at national level in EU Member States, - [Event Report - Beyond Fake News: A Workshop on Media Literacy and Fact Checking](https://ecas.org/event-report-beyond-fake-news/) - On 26 September 2017, ECAS hosted a workshop by the European Association of Viewers' Interests (EAVI) on the fake news, media literacy and shifting media landscape. Paolo Celot, Secretary General of EAVI, opened the workshop by introducing the concepts of fake news and media literacy, and discussed the implications of fake news for the individual - [Digital Democracy Day 2017 - Rejuvenating Europe: Opportunities in the Digital World](https://ecas.org/digital-democracy-day-2017-photos/) - On 17 October 2017, ECAS held its third annual Digital Democracy Day – Rejuvenating Europe: Opportunities in the Digital World – focusing on identifying the most common challenges to youth participation in European policy-making and proposing several concrete solutions to them by using digital tools. The event represented the final conference of the Erasmus+ project Deep-linking Youth, a - [YEA Annual Training Seminar 2017](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-seminar-2017/) - On 12 and 13 October, the Your Europe Advice annual training seminar, organised by ECAS in cooperation with DG Growth, took place in Brussels. The two-day seminar was preceded by a cocktail party held at ECAS’ premises on the evening of 11 October during which the YEA legal experts had the opportunity to discuss EU rights with two - [ECI Watch June](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-june/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - EESC ECI Day 2016: 'Forging Change' PETITION TO REFORM ECI: THE FINAL CALL - Petition to save ECI - help us reach 50 000 signatures! THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Commission Registers New ECI on Citizenship Education ECI WITHDRAWN - Wake Up Europe - [Call For Participants – Training for Free Movement Activists](https://ecas.org/training-free-movement-activists/) - Our partners, the European Alternatives, have launched a call for participants to receive training to become activists for free movement rights. Across the EU, European citizens are facing increasing restrictions to their free movement rights, from personal attacks and deportations to bureaucratic obstacles to accessing their rights. As part of the project ACT for Free - [Press Release: What Do Citizens Want From Brexit? - Free Movement, Healthcare and Non-Discrimination](https://ecas.org/brexit-survey-citizens-rights/) - Restrictions to the right of free movement are the biggest concern for both EU and UK citizens, who value the right to live and work in another EU Member State above all other EU rights, according to the findings of a survey published by ECAS today. Whilst the top concern of both EU and UK - [UK Opens Negotiations on EU Citizens’ Rights with “Fair and Reasonable Offer”](https://ecas.org/uk-offer-eu-citizens/) - The UK announced its offer to EU citizens on their post-Brexit rights on June 26 in an attempt to bring “reassurance and certainty” to the more than 3 million EU nationals residing in the UK, although the UK government’s position paper reads more like an opening to the negotiations than a serious attempt to assuage - [EU Citizens in the UK – Some Afterthoughts on the UK Initial Offer](https://ecas.org/eu-citizens-offer-thoughts/) - One week has gone by since the UK government set out its initial position on the status of EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit in a paper published on 26 June. Now that the dust from the reactions of the first few days has settled, this post catches the opportunity for some afterthoughts. It aims - [Founder and First President of ECAS – Simone Veil – Given Honourable Burial in Pantheon](https://ecas.org/simone-veil-honourable-burial/) - Founding member and first President of ECAS, Simone Veil, has been buried with full honours at the Pantheon in Paris, the final resting place of France’s greatest national figures. Ms Veil, who passed away on June 30, led a remarkable life. A Holocaust survivor, she went on to campaign for the legalisation of abortion in - [Michel Barnier: Citizens’ Rights Must Come First](https://ecas.org/michel-barnier-eesc/) - Michel Barnier has restated the need for citizens’ rights to come first in the Brexit negotiations to “create a climate of trust”, adding that the financial settlement and Irish border are also at the top of the list of priorities. Speaking at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels today, Mr Barnier also - [Event Report - Brexit and Citizens' Rights: Where Do We Go From Here?](https://ecas.org/event-report-brexit-citizens-rights/) - Almost a year on from the EU referendum in the UK, it is still unclear what will happen to the rights of the estimated 3.2 million Europeans living in the UK and the 1.2 million Britons living elsewhere in Europe. In her article triggering Article 50 TEU on 29th of March, Theresa May make the - [Your Europe Advice - 2016 Single Market Scoreboard](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-single-market-scoreboard/) - The Your Europe Advice (YEA) legal advice service, which ECAS manages on behalf of the European Commission, has received high praise in the 2016 Single Market Scorecard for the timeliness and quality of replies, quality control, reporting back to the Commission and number of enquiries responded to. In 2016, the service continued to improve its - [Event Report - Workshop: New technologies and transition: What role for civil society in a future of e-democracy?](https://ecas.org/event-report-future-edemocracy/) - At the 2017 Civil Society Days on 27 June, ECAS hosted a workshop exploring the potential of e-democracy to contribute to a more open and inclusive form of policy-making and the role that civil society can play in a future in which digitalisation enables more direct participation by citizens. The workshop featured the presentation of - [Estonia Brings Digital Focus to EU Presidency](https://ecas.org/estonia-eu-presidency/) - Estonia took over the rotating Presidency of the European Council at the beginning of July, bringing digitalisation and technological progress to the EU’s agenda. The Estonian Presidency’s digital priorities will go beyond the Digital Single Market, which is still being negotiated. They will seek “to take advantage of the digital revolution to bring more benefits - [Your Europe Advice Legal Expert on BBC News](https://ecas.org/yea-bbc-news/) - On 26 June, Your Europe Advice legal expert Dr Anthony Valcke appeared on BBC News to give an expert opinion on the UK's offer to EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit. On how the UK's offer compares to the EU's position on citizens' post-Brexit rights, Dr Valcke said: It's completely different. The UK is basically - ["One Issue That Could Break the Brexit Talks" - ECAS in The Atlantic](https://ecas.org/ecas-the-atlantic-brexit/) - ECAS appeared in The Atlantic on July 17, in an article on the issue of citizens' rights "looming" over the Brexit talks. Senior Manager, Programmes and Fundraising, Kenan Hadzimusic, told The Atlantic that a lack of clarity about how citizens' rights would be affected by Brexit was a cause for concern for UK and EU - [Youth Mobility and Erasmus+ - Live Chat with MEP Brando Benifei](https://ecas.org/youth-mobility-live-chat/) - On 12 July, ECAS and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) held a live chat with Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the Youth Intergroup. The topic of the chat was youth mobility in the EU and the Erasmus+ Programme, and participants could post their questions on Facebook, either in advance or during the chat. The chat - [ECJ Rules EU-Canada PNR Agreement Incompatible with Fundamental Rights](https://ecas.org/ecj-pnr-incompatible-fundamental-rights/) - The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on 26 July that the agreement between the EU and Canada on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data “may not be concluded in its current form” and the provisions of the agreement “do not meet requirements stemming from the fundamental rights of the European Union.” The - [Our Response to the Public Consultation on the European Citizens' Initiative](https://ecas.org/eci-public-consultation/) - In response to the European Commission's public consultation on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), ECAS made the following recommendations: Citizens’ initiatives should also foster transnational debates between both like-mind and different-minded citizens. Civil society organisations have an important role to play in supporting e-participation mechanisms at institutional levels. A few NGOs are already supporting ECI organisers - [Event Report: Brexit and Citizens' Rights: The Case of Gibraltar](https://ecas.org/event-report-brexit-citizens-rights-case-gibraltar/) - As a special British overseas territory sharing a land border with an EU country, Gibraltar’s economy and people are expected to suffer significantly from Brexit, in spite of the fact that its population of 32,000 inhabitants voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU in the UK’s referendum. With 12,000 European citizens crossing the border from Spain - [Event Report - Free Movement of Persons in the EU: A Loved and Feared Reality](https://ecas.org/event-report-free-movement-conference/) - In the 60 years since the concept of free movement of persons was first established in the Treaty of Rome, it has evolved to become the cornerstone of EU citizenship, granting EU citizens the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states. Today, despite the various challenges it faces, it - [Office Space to Rent with ECAS](https://ecas.org/office-space-ecas/) - Would you like to share office space with ECAS? We have a 20m² room in our office in Brussels available to rent for only EUR 508.95 per month. The rent includes: Sublease space - 20m² Office insurance Electricity Cleaning Internet 1 Telephone Telephone line Management service and supplies (e.g. post box daily check, use of the - [Project Launch: ACT for Free Movement](https://ecas.org/project-launch-act-free-movement/) - ECAS launched the ACT for Free Movement project on June 2, which will take action to strengthen the implementation of the EU Citizenship Directive and enhance EU citizens' free movement rights. The project aims to counter negative trends against the rights of mobile EU citizens, as identified at our conference in April, and build public awareness and political - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - July 2017](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-july-2017/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features three rulings affecting the derived right of residence in the EU of non-EU nationals and the right of a non-EU citizen to access social security benefits in an EU Member State. A third-country national may, as the parent of a minor child who is - [ECI Watch April](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-april/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - The European Commission replies to the European Parliament's ECI Resolution - EESC Public Hearing on ECI NEW PETITION TO REFORM THE ECI - Save the European Citizens' Initiative now! UPCOMING EVENT - The ECI Day: Forging Change (20 April 2016) - [EU-UK relations: A Turkish model for post-Brexit](https://ecas.org/eu-uk-turkish-model-post-brexit/) - On 16 March, our colleague Marta Pont was featured as a guest editor on VoxEurop on the impact of Brexit on citizens' rights. In her article, she summarises some of the findings of ECAS' recent study "5 Takeaways on Brexit: Outlining Possible Scenarios for a New UK-EU Relationship and their Impact on Citizens". She also points to the - [The Parliament Adopts its Report on e-Participation](https://ecas.org/parliament-adopts-report-e-participation/) - During its plenary session in March, the European Parliament adopted its own initiative report on e-democracy in the European Union. The report, prepared by Spanish S&D MEP Ramón Jáuregui and approved by 459 votes to 53, with 47 abstentions, examines the opportunities that new technologies bring about to involve and engage more people in the - [ECAS’ Director Calls for Enhanced Digital Democracy in EU at EESC Debate](https://ecas.org/ecas-eesc-digital-democracy/) - On March 7, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, called for an enhanced digital democracy for the EU in the European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) ‘Towards a Sustainable Europe’ debate. In her intervention in the debate, on the digitalisation of society and the transition to a new economic model, Ms Kavrakova addressed the impact of digitalisation - [Event Report: Disability Rights in the UK Post-Brexit](https://ecas.org/event-report-brexit-disability-rights-uk/) - What are the instruments and initiatives that the EU has in place to protect and promote the rights of disabled people? How might Brexit affect these rights and access to EU funding streams in support of the disabled? How can we ensure that disability rights are not taken away from citizens in the UK after - [Rome Declaration: EU Leaders Open Door to Multispeed Europe](https://ecas.org/rome-declaration/) - On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on March 25, EU leaders pledged to offer citizens “both security and new opportunities” in the face of unprecedented global and domestic challenges, whilst leaving the door open for a ‘multispeed’ Europe. The Rome Declaration emphasised the message of unity and solidarity by - [Event Report: Brexit and Citizens' Rights in Northern Ireland](https://ecas.org/event-report-brexit-citizens-rights-northern-ireland/) - As the only UK region sharing a direct border with an EU country and given its close links with Ireland, Northern Ireland and its citizens are expected to be heavily impacted by Brexit. Brexit is not only expected to limit the rights of people to live, reside and work elsewhere in Europe, but could also - [Press Release: ECAS Welcomes Timmermans’ Announcement to Revise the ECI Regulation](https://ecas.org/timmermans-eci-revision/) - In a speech at the annual European Citizens´ Initiative Day (ECI Day) on 11 April 2017, European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans announced the Commission´s plans to revise the ECI Regulation this year. A public consultation will be launched before the summer which should culminate in a proposal to revise the ECI Regulation this year. This follows - [Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2016](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-annual-trends-2016/) - In 2016, ECAS' Your Europe Advice experts replied to 20,491 enquiries, providing legal advice to citizens and businesses facing problems when exercising their free movement rights in the EU. Based on these enquiries, a report has been produced which identifies key trends in obstacles to free movement. This report was presented at a conference organised by - [ECAS' Study on Brexit on Europe Street News](https://ecas.org/ecas-study-brexit-europe-street-news/) - ECAS' study "5 Takeaways on Brexit: Outlining Possible Scenarios for a New UK-EU Relationship and their Impact on Citizens" was featured on 13 April 2017 on Europe Street news. “With this report we wanted to show different scenarios currently available for EU citizens’ rights. There might be others. The conclusion is that there is no - [YEA Annual Trends Features in Multiple Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/yea-annual-trends-news/) - On 12 April, ECAS presented the Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2016 report at its conference 'Free Movement of Persons in the EU: A Loved and Feared Reality' at the Press Club in Brussels. The report was featured during the first panel of the conference, which identified the current challenges and problems EU citizens face when exercising their - [Revising the ECI: How to make it ‘fit for purpose’](https://ecas.org/revising-eci-make-fit-purpose/) - On 20 April, our Director was featured on EurActiv on how to make the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) fit for purpose. She elaborates seven concrete recommendations extracted from an evidence-based opinion that was submitted by ECAS and adopted by the REFIT platform in June 2016. The article is in response to the announcement by Vice-President of the Commission Frans - [Brexit Update: EU Institutions Adopt their Positions Ahead of the Negotiations](https://ecas.org/brexit-update-eu-institutions-adopt-positions-ahead-negotiations/) - Almost a year on since the EU referendum in the UK, the EU and the UK are gearing up for the negotiations that will define their future relations. With the snap general election in the UK, the start of the negotiations has been postponed until after the vote on 8 June. Meanwhile, Brussels negotiators have - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - May 2017](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-may-2017/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features the opinion of an Advocate General of the EU Court of Justice with implications for free movement of workers in the EU. The section also includes an update on the new EU rules on roaming charges, which will apply as of 15 June 2017 and will - [Interview: ECAS' Elisa Lironi on e-Democracy](https://ecas.org/edemocracy-interview/) - An interview with ECAS' Digital Democracy Manager, Elisa Lironi, has featured in an article by EU-LOGOS Athena about e-democracy and the role of citizens' participation in the democratic process published on 2 May 2017. In the interview, she discusses the different approaches countries take towards e-democracy, measures that already exist at EU level, the impact of cyberattacks on - [Future of EU Citizens in the UK – Uncertainty Remains After Brexit Bill Vote](https://ecas.org/brexit-bill-eu-rights/) - An amendment to the Brexit bill to guarantee the residence rights of EU citizens lawfully resident in the UK on the day of the EU referendum has been narrowly rejected by MPs despite assertions by the UK government that it is committed to securing their rights. The vote on the amendment (New Clause 57), which - [Our Director Interviewed on Professional Opportunities at ECAS](https://ecas.org/director-interviewed-work-ecas/) - Our Director, Assya Kavrakova, was interviewed recently by key2advance on the work of ECAS and the skills and qualifications it takes to reach her position. The interview was part of a project with the University of Kent in Brussels through which over 100 professionals in Brussels from different sectors have been interviewed. The aim of the project - [ECI Watch February](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-february/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - The General Court annuls the Commission's decision in refusing registration of the proposed European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Minority SafePack – one million signatures for diversity in Europe’ UPCOMING EVENTS - ECI Day 2017 - I participate! THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - "Choose Freedom" for an European free movement instrument- - [5 Takeaways on Brexit: Read Our Study on Brexit and Citizens' Rights](https://ecas.org/brexit-takeaways-study/) - Since the Brexit vote in June 2016, a number of studies have looked into the financial and economic impact of Brexit, but there is yet to be a study undertaking a thorough analysis of the consequences of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU for citizens’ rights. With more than 3 million EU citizens resident in the UK and - [5 Takeaways on Brexit: No ‘Best Alternative’ to EU Membership for Citizens’ Rights](https://ecas.org/brexit-takeaways-no-best-alternative/) - There is no ‘best alternative’ to EU membership for EU citizens in the UK and vice versa once the UK formally leaves the EU under which all their current rights will be fully preserved, according to a study produced by ECAS on the future relationship between the EU and UK. A choice, therefore, will have - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - March](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-march/) - During the first two months of the year, the European Court of Justice issued three judgments and opinions regarding citizens’ rights. The most recent one concerns the EU’s competence to conclude, on its own, the Marrakesh Treaty on access to published works for visually impaired people. The second one is a decision annulling a Commission decision - [Your Europe Advice Informs European Parliament Reports on Obstacles to Free Movement Rights](https://ecas.org/europe-advice-informs-european-parliament-reports-obstacles-free-movement-rights/) - Data provided by the YEA Quarterly Feedback Reports has provided the basis to a series of reports issued by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, at the request of the LIBE and PETI committees. These reports, issued between June and September 2016, analyse the current state of implementation of the - [More or Less Europe – What the Commission’s White Paper Means for Citizens](https://ecas.org/commission-white-paper/) - The Commission's 'White Paper on the Future of Europe' outlines five scenarios for a 'new chapter' of European union for the EU27, but fails to answer the key question – what do citizens want from Europe. Despite European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's call for “leadership, unity and common resolve” in taking the EU27 forward after - [European Parliament Approves its Position on the Europe for Citizens Programme](https://ecas.org/parliament-position-europe-for-citizens/) - In its last mini-plenary sitting in Brussels on 2 March, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Europe for Citizens Programme, by voting in favour of the report prepared by ALDE MEP of the CULT committee Maria Teresa Barbat, with 470 votes in favour, 132 against and 37 abstentions The adopted report, which follows - [Brexit Update: Parliament Passes Brexit Bill](https://ecas.org/brexit-eu-citizens-rights/) - Parliament has voted to reject the Lords' amendments to the Brexit bill, paving the way for it to be passed into law. The bill will now receive Royal Assent after the Lords voted against further amendments to it last night. The bill initially went through the House of Commons unamended, only for the Lords to revise - [ECAS Moderates a Post-Brexit Workshop With Young Europeans](https://ecas.org/ecas-post-brexit-workshop/) - On 16 November, 2016, ECAS’ Membership and Outreach Manager, Marta Pont, was invited by the Heinrich Boell Stiftung to moderate a working group on the unavoidability of Brexit and ways to maintain close relations between the EU and the UK. The working group was part of the Workshop for the Future organised by Heinrich Boell - [EUCROWD Launched at Conference in Slovenia](https://ecas.org/eucrowd-launched-conference-slovenia/) - The EUCROWD project was launched in Slovenia on October 26 at a Conference hosted by the Institute for Electronic Participation EUCROWD is a project under the Europe for Citizens programme which aims to enhance citizens’ understanding of policy-making processes and encourage democratic engagement by establishing a framework for a crowdsourcing pilot at EU level. ECAS, - [Press Release: ECAS to Launch Triple A for Citizens Pan-European Network](https://ecas.org/ecas-launch-triple-a-european-network/) - ECAS will launch the Triple A for Citizens – Access to information, Advice and Active help - pan-European network today, establishing free legal aid and advice services across Europe and empowering citizens by raising awareness of their rights and helping with their enforcement. The network is open to all organisations that provide free advice services to - [ECAS Christmas Cocktail: A Celebration With Our Partners](https://ecas.org/ecas-christmas-cocktail/) - ECAS held its annual Christmas Cocktail event on 6 December, welcoming its friends, partners and associates to reflect on a tumultuous year for Europe and look forward to the challenges ahead. Guests included our Board members, project partners, and staffers from European Commission’s Units and Agencies and from the EESC, with whom we regularly cooperate, - [Triple A - Access to Justice for Citizens](https://ecas.org/free-advice-services/) - Empowering vulnerable citizens to exercise their rights through free direct advice services Triple A for Citizens is a 4-year project in the Western Balkans and Turkey, which empowers citizens to exercise their rights through the provision of free legal aid, advice and information. The project is led by ECAS and implemented in partnership with 10 other - [ECAS EVS Volunteer Features on EuroparlTV](https://ecas.org/ecas-evs-europarltv/) - ECAS’ has featured on EuroparlTV, the European Parliament’s web video service, as a host organisation for the European Voluntary Service (EVS). Esra Inan, who has been an EVS volunteer at ECAS since February 2016, was interviewed for EuroparlTV by MEP Silvia Costa, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, about her experiences as a volunteer on - [Switzerland Passes New Immigration Law that Avoids Quotas but Privileges National Workers](https://ecas.org/switzerland-immigration-law-quotas/) - On 16 December 2016, the Swiss Parliament passed a balanced immigration law (the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals) which addresses its voters’ wish to curb immigration while hopes to maintain the country’s privileged access to the Single Market. 'Against Mass Immigration' Referendum In February 2014, 56.6% of the Swiss electorate took part in a referendum - [Council Approves Legislative Priorities for 2017](https://ecas.org/eu-priorities-2017/) - After a year in which Britain voted to leave the EU and with elections coming up in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and possibly Italy, 2017 is set to be a critical year for the EU. With populist parties threatening to win major elections across Europe, the EU needs to show that it is still a - [EU Leaders Agree UK Withdrawal Negotiations Process](https://ecas.org/eu-uk-withdrawal-negotiations/) - On 15 December, the leaders of the EU27 set out the procedural arrangements for the Brexit withdrawal negotiations when the UK invokes Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, and reiterated their agreement that continued access to the Single Market will require acceptance of all four freedoms, including freedom of movement. The Council is set to - [ECAS Welcomes the Commission’s Proposal to Update EU Rules on Social Security Coordination](https://ecas.org/eu-update-social-security/) - In line with ECAS’ joint recommendations with the EU Rights Clinic, proposed improvements to the existing legislation include an increased period for jobseekers to export their unemployment benefits, a clarification of the exportability of long-term care benefits and closer cooperation among Member States in data exchange. On 13 December 2016, the European Commission published its - [Continental Drift? ECAS on Brexit and the Cultural Sector](https://ecas.org/brexit-culture/) - On 8 December, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, participated in the conference Continental Drift? EU-UK Negotiations in the Cultural Sector organised jointly by Culture Action Europe, the European Cultural Foundation and Bozar. Ms Kavrakova defended freedom of movement as an asset that must not be taken for granted and that should be preserved “at all costs”, and - [EU Citizenship Report 2017: More Action Needed to Safeguard Freedom of Movement](https://ecas.org/eu-citizenship-report-2017-safeguard-freedom-movement/) - On 24 January, the European Commission published its 2017 EU Citizenship Report, which takes stock of the achievements of the three years since the last report was issued and puts forward new actions to further improve the exercise of EU rights by citizens and businesses. While the new edition definitely brings a qualitative leap compared - [Our Legal Experts Answer Citizens' Questions on Business in the EU in a Facebook Chat](https://ecas.org/yea-business-questions-facebook-chat/) - On 23 January, legal experts from the Your Europe Advice service, which ECAS manages on behalf of the European Commission, took part in a Facebook chat, answering EU citizens’ questions about doing business in the EU. Over 400 users followed the chat live, as legal experts from Your Europe Advice, as well as from the - [ECAS Work Programme 2017 – Serving Citizens and Civil Society](https://ecas.org/ecas-work-programme-2017/) - ECAS has formulated its Work Programme for 2017, comprising 38 activities and focusing on ECAS’ core mission of empowering citizens to exercise their rights, enhancing participation and transparency at EU level, and capacity-building for civil society in the EU and beyond. Activities for the year incorporate EU projects, services to citizens, awareness-raising and capacity-building, advocacy - [Your Europe Advice Contributes to Study on Free Movement Barriers](https://ecas.org/europe-advice-study-free-movement/) - Quarterly reports produced by our Your Europe Advice management team, together with citizens’ complaints submitted to our legal experts, have been used as evidence to contribute to a new study released by the European Parliament on recurring obstacles that EU citizens and their family members face when moving to another EU country. The study, entitled ‘Obstacles to - [Read the Findings of our Survey on the Europe for Citizens' Review](https://ecas.org/read-findings-survey-europe-citizens-review/) - The European Citizen Action Service launched an internal consultation among its members, partners and networks in early July on the Europe for Citizens programme, in order to contribute to the ongoing review of this programme, which should be completed by 2017. This consultation consisted of a series of questions aimed at identifying the pitfalls and - [ECAS at the CoR Conference on EU Citizenship ](https://ecas.org/ecas-cor-conference-eu-citizenship/) - ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, was invited as a panellist to the Conference ‘Promoting EU Citizenship: rights, values and involvement’, which took place in Oviedo (Spain) on 23 September. The conference was organised by the Committee of the Regions, with the support of the European Commission and the regional Government of Asturias. ECAS’ Director was invited - [ECAS is One of Europe’s Top Employers for Interns](https://ecas.org/ecas-one-europes-top-employers-interns/) - LE FIGARO - ECAS is a top employer for interns Interns have rated ECAS as one of Europe’s top employers according to InternsGoPro, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of internships. ECAS features in the list of top 14 employers, achieving an ‘Advanced’ label for its commitment to providing a quality learning programme for the career development - [Citizens' Corner: ECAS on the Challenges of the ECI](https://ecas.org/citizens-corner-debate-eci/) - RTBF/EURANET - TIME FOR ECI REVIEW? On 11 October, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, and Digital Democracy Manager, Elisa Lironi, took part in a Citizens’ Corner debate organised by Euranet Plus and RTBF at the European Parliament on the challenges facing the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). The debate consisted of two separate panels, bringing together key MEPs - [Work Programme 2017: EU Citizens’ Rights to be Promoted but Still No Progress on the ECI](https://ecas.org/work-programme-citizens-rights-promoted-no-progress-eci/) - On 25 October, the 2017 Work Programme of the Juncker Commission was presented to the European Parliament. ECAS welcomes the Commission’s commitment to promoting awareness among citizens and companies of their rights and upgrading and streamlining existing problem-solving tools. The 20-year-old Your Europe Advice service of the European Commission, proudly managed by ECAS, plays a - [Read our New Paper on Crowdsourcing](https://ecas.org/read-new-paper-crowdsourcing/) - As part of its Digital Democracy Agenda, ECAS has been working over the past year on an analysis of crowdsourcing as a means of enhancing democratic engagement in the EU. Currently, the few existing tools for citizens’ participation in the EU have proven to be ineffective in bridging the democratic deficit. The crises the EU is - [Parliament Must Be Consulted on Article 50, High Court Rules](https://ecas.org/parliament-article-50-high-court-ruling/) - Historic ruling on Article 50 On 3 November, the UK’s High Court adjudicated in favour of a challenge brought by UK citizens against the government’s right to use the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon and begin the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU). The historic - [European Parliament adopts its position on 2017 Budget](https://ecas.org/parliament-adopts-position-2017-budget/) - On 26 October, the European Parliament set out its position on the 2017 draft budget, demanding more funds to address youth unemployment and the migration crisis. MEPs voted by 446 votes to 184, with 60 abstentions, to reverse all of the Council’s proposed cuts and have included a much needed increase in funding for the Europe for - [Digital Democracy Day 2016 - Read the Report](https://ecas.org/digital-democracy-day-2016-read-report/) - On 18 October, 2016, ECAS held its second annual Digital Democracy Day - Will E-Participation Bring Citizens Back to the EU? - exploring the future of e-participation and crowdsourcing, engaging 'digital natives' in policy-making and connecting citizens to politicians. More than 100 participants took part in the event, which was held in Brussels at the Representation of - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - November](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-november/) - In September 2016, the European Court of Justice issued an important ruling on the rights of third-country nationals in charge of EU minors and, in early November, the UK’s High Court delivered a landmark judgment with implications for the UK’s exit negotiations with the EU, and, therefore, for citizens’ rights. The EU Court on the - [Triple A for Citizens: The Key Achievements](https://ecas.org/triple-citizens-key-achievements/) - Triple A for Citizens is a project led by ECAS and implemented in partnership with 10 civil society organisations from across Europe since 2012. The project is about empowering civil society organisations to help citizens to exercise their rights through the provision of information, advice and free legal aid. The project is funded by the European Commission’s Partnership - [Your Europe Advice Celebrates its 20th Anniversary](https://ecas.org/your-europe-advice-20th-anniversary/) - On the 20 and 21 October, the Your Europe Advice annual training seminar took place in Brussels. This year, the seminar was launched on the evening of the 19 October, with a cocktail party organised at ECAS’ premises, featuring the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, as special guest. This year's seminar was marked by the special celebration - [Eurobarometer 'Parlemeter' 2016 - Key Findings](https://ecas.org/parlemeter-2016-key-findings/) - The latest Eurobarometer 'Parlemeter' survey shows a small drop in support for membership of the EU and a more pessimistic outlook about the direction of the EU and the extent to which citizens' voices matter in both the EU and Member States. The findings of the 'Parlemeter', based on face-to-face interviews with over 27,000 Europeans across all - [Meet our New Board of Directors](https://ecas.org/meet-new-board-directors/) - On 8 June 2016 ECAS held its Annual General Assembly, which took place at the Flemish Ministry for Welfare, Health and Family. During the meeting the new members of the Board of Directors were elected and the outgoing members were discharged of their responsibility. The new members of ECAS' Board of Directors are: László Andor, former Commissioner - [Missed our EU Citizenship Conference? Read the Report!](https://ecas.org/missed-eu-citizenship-conference-read-report/) - On 18 May 2016 ECAS organised the Conference "24 Years of EU Citizenship: What We Stand to Lose", to discuss the achievements and challenges of EU Citizenship, close to 25 years after this concept was enshrined in EU Law. More than 70 participants took part in the Conference, which was held at the premises of the - [Our Study on e-Participation in the EU for the AFCO Committee Released](https://ecas.org/potential-challenges-e-participation-european-union-study/) - In May 2016 AFCO's study on the 'Potential and Challenges of e-Participation in the European Union' was released. This study was commissioned and supervised by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee. The author of the study is Elisa Lironi, our Digital Democracy and Campaigning Coordinator. - [ECAS Contributes to a New Study on the Schengen Area State of Play](https://ecas.org/ecas-contributes-new-study-schengen-area-state-play/) - The European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizen’s Rights and Constitutional Affairs has recently released the study “Internal border controls in the Schengen area: is Schengen crisis-proof?", which analyses the Schengen area in the wake of the European refugee crisis and other recent developments. Despite suggestions that the end of Schengen is approaching or arguments that there is - [ECAS Asks the Commission to Make the ECI 'Fit for Purpose'](https://ecas.org/ecas-asks-commission-make-eci-fit-purpose/) - The REFIT Platform was set up by the European Commission in 2015, as part of its Better Regulation agenda, to improve and simplify EU legislation. It brings together in two groups experts from business, civil society, social partners, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Member States and - [The Your Europe Advice Performs Well in the Single Market Scoreboard 2016](https://ecas.org/europe-advice-featured-single-market-scoreboard/) - Every year the European Commission issues a scoreboard to assess the governance of the Single Market and its practical implementation on the ground by EU and EEA Member States. This monitoring tool called the 'Single Market Scoreboard' allows the Commission to spot the areas where more efforts are needed and use this information as a basis - [Civil Society Given a Boost in Western Balkans](https://ecas.org/civil-society-given-boost-western-balkans/) - The third Western Balkans Summit took place in Paris in July 2016, resulting in substantial progress for civil society organisations in the region as well as an important development in Serbia’s efforts to accede to the EU. The standout achievement from the summit was the establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) for the - [What Does Brexit Actually Mean for Citizens’ Rights?](https://ecas.org/brexit-actually-mean-citizens-rights/) - More than 2 months have elapsed since the UK’s Brexit vote, and there is still much uncertainty as to what this will mean for freedom of movement and the rights of EU and UK citizens after Britain does leave the EU. The mantra of the post-Brexit UK government has been ‘Brexit means Brexit’, but there - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - Summer Update](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-summer-update/) - During the Summer, the European Court of Justice issued two important judgements with implications for the right to free movement. Both cases concern the entitlement to social benefits. In the first case, as a result of employment status, and, in the second case, derived from residency. In addition, the European Commission took Austria to the - [ECAS' Reaction to the State of the Union Speech](https://ecas.org/towards-better-europe-empowers-citizens-digital-democracy/) - On 15 September, our colleague Elisa Lironi was featured as a guest on Euractiv's blog, reacting to President Juncker's State of the Union speech (SOTEU) of 14 September. In his speech, President Juncker emphasised the opportunities offered by the Internet and digital technologies, and explicitly made a bold promise to provide free wireless internet in public - [Bratislava Summit - ECAS Calls for a Citizen-Centric EU](https://ecas.org/bratislava-summit-ecas-calls-citizen-centric-eu/) - As Europe’s presidents and prime ministers meet in Bratislava today, following Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s annual State of the European Union speech to the Parliament on 14 September, competing visions of the future of European Union look set to undermine its consolidation after the Brexit vote in June. Whilst Juncker talked of the EU still - [ECAS Legal Team Participates in the Conference on the European Professional Card](https://ecas.org/ecas-participates-in-epc-conference/) - On 18 March, Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME of the European Commission hosted a conference on The European Professional Card as a part of this year’s Single Market Forum. The European Professional Card (EPC) is an electronic certificate issued via the first EU-wide fully online procedure for the recognition of qualifications. - [EU Rights Clinic’s Lawyer Anthony Valcke on Euronews about Belgian Expulsions](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-clinics-lawyer-anthony-valcke-speaking-about-belgian-expulsions-on-euronews/) - Our EU Rights Clinic’s professor, Anthony Valcke, was featured in Euronews' special report about expulsions of EU citizens from Belgium. The report focuses on an increasing trend of Belgian authorities to withdraw residence permits of EU citizens who lost their job in Belgium and became jobseekers or have no sufficient resources to support themselves. This resulted - [The Commission Says It Will Not Revise the ECI Regulation for Now](https://ecas.org/the-commission-says-it-will-not-revise-the-eci-regulation-for-now/) - On 18 March 2016, the European Commission's answer to the European Parliament's ECI resolution was made public. The Parliament had asked the Commission to reform the ECI by significantly approving the ECI resolution which was based on the ECI report developed by György Schöpflin MEP. While acknowledging the flaws in the current system, the Commission has announced it will not - [ECAS Volunteers Participate in an Active Citizenship Training in Belgrade](https://ecas.org/ecas-volunteers-participate-in-an-active-citizenship-training-in-belgrade/) - From 2 to 10 March 2016, two European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteers from ECAS, Joanna Marczuk and Esra Inan participated in the “Active Europeans for Active Citizenship” training course organised by our partner in Serbia AD "Novi Beograd". Together with 33 other youth workers, trainers, youth leaders and active young people from 10 European countries, - [Save the Date for our Conference "24 Years of EU Citizenship: What We Stand to Lose" on 18 May](https://ecas.org/save-the-date-for-our-conference-24-years-of-eu-citizenship-what-we-stand-to-lose/) - Nearly 25 years after the concept of EU citizenship was first enshrined in the EU Maastricht Treaty, it is time for a thorough assessment of the key achievements and the pending challenges where more work remains to be done in order for citizens to fully reap the rights and privileges that come with it. Recent - [Our Summary of the ECI Day 2016](https://ecas.org/summary-eci-day-2016/) - The ECI Day 2016: Forging Change took place at the Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 20 April 2016 in Brussels. Organised by the EESC in cooperation with several civil society organisations, including ECAS, it represents an important annual meeting to exchange ideas on the ECI as a tool for participatory democracy in the EU. - [Online Chat on Professional Qualifications in the EU Reaches 115,000 Citizens](https://ecas.org/chat-professional-qualifications/) - On 18 April 2016 ECAS' legal experts from the Your Europe Advice and from the European Commission - DG Internal Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs and Your Europe Portal- replied together about 100 questions on the recognition of professional qualifications and practicing in another EU country. Some questions also touched upon the academic recognition of diplomas across the EU. - [Our Director on VoxEurop, on the Impact of the New Security Measures on Citizens](https://ecas.org/director-voxeurop-impact-proposed-security-measures/) - On 29 April our Director published an opinion editorial on VoxEurop on the measures that are being adopted in response to the security threats looming over Europe and their implications for the civil liberties and basic freedoms of EU citizens. She argues that citizens are expected to pay a high price with regard to their rights in hopes of a safer - [24 Years of EU Citizenship: Removing the Obstacles to Full Potential](https://ecas.org/24-years-eu-citizenship-removing-obstacles-full-potential/) - This paper aims to take stock of the key achievements of EU citizenship, almost 25 years after the concept was introduced, but most importantly it aims to identify the pending challenges where more work remains to be done in order to remove the obstacles standing in the way of citizens’ enjoyment of their rights. In times - [Our Take on the Posted Workers Directive](https://ecas.org/take-posted-workers-directive/) - Labour mobility is a passionately debated topic and an unusual one in that it is debated both within the “Brussels bubble” and across Europe. For some it represents the essence of the EU’s achievements that needs to be upheld and strengthened, whereas others feel that its effects are mostly negative and put downward pressure - [ECAS hosts a workshop on e-participation at the European Youth Event](https://ecas.org/ecas-hosts-workshop-e-participation-european-youth-event/) - ECAS was present at this year’s European Youth Event (EYE) as a group organiser to host a workshop on youth e-participation. The workshop “EU digital toolbox for successful e-participation” took place on Friday 19 May in Strasbourg and was co-animated by ECAS’ Digital Democracy Coordinator, Elisa Lironi, and Outreach and Membership Manager, Marta Pont. The - [Join us at the Forum Citoyenneté on 2 June!](https://ecas.org/join-us-2-june-forum-citoyennete/) - ECAS and the Your Europe Advice service will be giving direct legal advice at the second Forum Citoyenneté at Université Populaire d'Anderlecht on Thursday 2 June between 9am and 20pm. The Forum will provide information and advice on elections, citizenship and active civic and political participation of European citizens in Belgium. The participants will be able - [Our Reply to the Transparency Register Consultation](https://ecas.org/reply-transparency-register-consultation/) - In response to President Juncker’s commitment to enhanced transparency as part of his political priority for a more democratic Europe, the Commission launched in March 2016 a public consultation on the EU Transparency Register. The aim of this consultation was twofold: to gather views of the functioning of the current Register and to receive input - [ECAS at the Civil Dialogue in Barcelona](https://ecas.org/ecas-civil-dialogue-barcelona/) - On 31 May and 1 June, Barcelona hosted the conference 'European Citizenship in Challenging Times' and the annual Civil Dialogue, organised by the European Commission in collaboration with EUROM, the University of Barcelona and Barcelona City Council. ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, was invited as a speaker to the second panel session on how to consolidate - [ECAS Hosts a Free Movement Workshop at the Civil Society Days 2016](https://ecas.org/ecas-hosts-free-movement-workshop-civil-society-days-2016/) - As a member of the EESC Liaison Group with Civil Society, ECAS was invited to organise a workshop during the Civil Society Days 2016. The workshop, called Freedom of Movement in the EU: Challenges and Prospects for EU citizens, took place on 1 June 2016 and attracted numerous civil society representatives and larger public audience. The - [Commission Registers New ECI on Citizenship Education](https://ecas.org/commission-registers-new-eci-citizenship-education/) - On 7 June 2016 the Commission gave its green light to register the new European Citizens’ Initiative “More Than Education”, having concluded that it fulfils the legal admissibility requirements. The collection of signatures will start in a month time. This ECI was submitted by AEGEE Europe – the European Students’ Forum on 13 April 2016. - [New Rules to Improve Free Movement in the EU](https://ecas.org/new-rules-improve-free-movement-eu/) - In June 2016 two important steps have been done in order to further support the free movement of people across the EU. On 7 June the European Commission unveiled at a plenary session in Strasbourg its legal proposal to reform the rules on highly-skilled migrants coming to the EU to work, in order to attract - [Our Director Joins the REFIT Platform for Better Regulation](https://ecas.org/our-director-appointed-member-of-the-refit-platform-for-better-regulation/) - Our Director has been recently appointed member of the Stakeholder group of the REFIT Platform for better regulation at EU level by Commission Decision of 16 December 2015. The REFIT platform brings together high-level experts from business, civil society, social partners, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of Regions and Member States. Its main task is to support - [ECAS Wishes You a Happy Holiday Season!](https://ecas.org/seasons-greetings/) - ['Free Borders is a Privilege We are Losing' Claims our Director](https://ecas.org/free-borders-is-a-privilege-we-are-losing-claims-our-director/) - Our Director, Assya Kavrakova, was recently interviewed by the Danish newspaper Information on the impact of dismantling Schengen. She claims that such an ungly scenario could have long-standing consequences for one of the EU citizens' most cherished rights, namely free movement in Europe. Read the full article here - [Security-Or-Rights Evening Debate on 13 January 2016](https://ecas.org/security-or-rights-evening-debate-on-13-january-2016/) - On 13 January ECAS and the European Movement International (EMI) co-organised a panel debate on the security/rights trade-off, which focused on the measures that are being discussed at EU level to respond to the current security threats and the impact they might have on citizens' rights. With the recent agreement on the EU Data Protection Rules and - [Launch of the European Professional Card: A Step Towards the EU-Wide Recognition of Qualifications](https://ecas.org/launch-of-the-european-professional-card-a-step-towards-the-eu-wide-recognition-of-qualifications/) - The European Professional Card (EPC) is a key element of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. It is intended to make it easier for professional qualifications to be recognised across the EU, in line with the Single Market Strategy’s goal to enable Europeans to work wherever they choose, anywhere in the EU. Following - [Launch of the DEEP-Linking Youth Project](https://ecas.org/deep-linking-youth/) - On the 20th of January 2016, ECAS hosted the Kick-Off Meeting of the Digital Ecosystem for E-Participation Linking Youth (DEEP-Linking Youth), a two-year project supported by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme. As the coordinator of this project, ECAS will be implementing DEEP-linking Youth with six organisations: the Consultation Institute (TCI), Erasmus Student Network (ESN), Civil - [ECAS Gives Input for the Sustainability of EC-Funded Projects in Western Balkans and Turkey](https://ecas.org/ecas-gives-input-for-the-sustainability-of-ec-funded-projects-in-western-balkans-and-turkey/) - On 26-27 January representatives of the DG NEAR-funded Framework Partnership Agreement (FPAs) met in Brussels to discuss the sustainability of their actions and to formulate recommendations to DG NEAR for further support of the sustainability of project outcomes and regional network building. The conference, organized by the TACSO Regional Office, was attended by representatives of DG NEAR - [Our Director, Guest Panelist at CEPS' Lunchtime Debate on Schengen](https://ecas.org/our-director-guest-panelist-at-ceps-lunchtime-debate-on-schengen/) - On 28 January Assya Kavrakova was invited as a speaker by CEPS to the lunchtime debate on Schengen hosted by Carlos Coelho MEP at the European Parliament, as part of the SOURCE project. The discussion was moderated by the EU Observer journalist Nikolaj Nielsen and included as guest speakers the Executive Director of Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, Professor Groenendijk at the University - [Call for Participants for a Training on EU Citizenship in Belgrade](https://ecas.org/call-for-participants-for-a-training-course-on-european-citizenship-in-belgrade-2-10-march/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) has launched a call for participants for a training course to promote European citizenship that will take place in Belgrade (Serbia) from the 2nd until the 10th of March 2016 The training is funded by the Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission, through the Erasmus+ - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - December and January](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-2/) - In December 2015 and January 2016 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued two important rulings on the field of labour in the EU - the latter with implications for the freedom of movement of workers in the EU. The first one concerns a case brought by the Commission against Greece on grounds of a breach of the EU - [Find Us at the Forum Citoyenneté on 4 February](https://ecas.org/forum-citoyennete/) - ECAS and the Your Europe Advice service will be present at the Forum Citoyenneté at La Tentation on Thursday 4 February between 10am and 20pm. The Citizenship Forum (Forum Citoyenneté) is part of the European project One-stop-shop for the political participation of mobile EU citizens and it is co-organised by Objectif - a Belgian association that works to - [Our Digital Democracy Coordinator on RTBF on the ECI](https://ecas.org/our-digital-democracy-coordinator-on-rtfb-on-the-eci/) - Yesterday our Digital Democracy Coordinator, Elisa Lironi, was shortly interviewed by the French-speaking Belgian public broadcaster RTBF on the links between online community petitions platforms like Avaaz and the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), which allows European citizens to invite the European Commission to propose legislation on matters where the EU has competence to legislate. Her intervention was part of - [The Commission to Revise the Schengen Borders Code Amidst National Threats to the System](https://ecas.org/the-commission-to-revise-the-schengen-borders-code-amidst-national-threats-to-the-system/) - On 15 December 2015 the European Commission presented a comprehensive package of measures aimed at securing the EU’s external borders and at managing migration flows more effectively. This came in response to the migration pressures and the latest terrorist attacks in Paris and security threats looming over Europe, which have prompted Member States to temporarily - [ECI Watch January](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-january/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS -EESC Public Hearing on ECI WHAT'S NEXT? - The ECI Day: Forging Change THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Wake Up Europe! - Cannabis to be decriminalised and regulated - Mum, Dad and Kids ECI COMING SOON... - Common Borders - People For Soil - [ECAS, Certified as Best European Employer for Interns](https://ecas.org/our-organisation-certified-as-best-european-employer-for-interns/) - We are pleased to inform that our organisation has been recently granted the European label for quality internships by InternsGoPro. This label is offered to organisations offering quality internship programmes, both in terms of economic and work environment conditions, as well as in terms of learning outcomes and career prospects. Check out what our concrete commitments to quality - [ECAS at the CFEU Project Fair on 2 March](https://ecas.org/ecas-at-the-cfeu-project-fair-on-2-march/) - ECAS will be present at the Project Fair organised this Wednesday 2 March 2016 from 4pm until 6.30pm by Citizens for Europe (CFEU) at the Flemish Cultural Centre. The aim of this initiative is to create an opportunity for NGOs to network and share their ongoing and planned projects, which could eventually lead to synergies - [Our Director, Keynote Speaker at the ECI Public Hearing](https://ecas.org/4798-2/) - On 22 February 2016, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, was the keynote speaker at an ECI hearing organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The hearing marked a turning point in any remaining hope for an ECI reform in the coming year, as a Commission representative conveyed that the ECI Regulation will not be - [ECAS Participates in a Round Table on Agenda-Setting and Public Opinion at EU Level](https://ecas.org/ecas-participates-in-a-round-table-on-agenda-setting-at-eu-level/) - On 24 February 2016, ECAS’ Membership and Outreach Manager, Marta Pont, participated in a round table on the topic of agenda-setting at EU level and on the existence of a European public opinion. The round table took place in Brussels and gathered EU correspondents and representatives of interest groups and civil society. There was general agreement - [ECAS Presents its Interim Report on E-Participation in the EU at AFCO's Public Hearing](https://ecas.org/ecas-will-present-an-afco-commissioned-report-e-participation/) - ECAS participated in the European Parliament's public hearing on Monday 14 March 2016 on the state of E-Democracy in the EU to present its interim report of a study on E-Participation The hearing was organised by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and focused on the Potential and Challenges of E-Democracy in the EU. The session was - [Citizen Participation in the new EU eGovernment Action Plan 2016 - 2020](https://ecas.org/citizen-participation-in-the-new-eu-egovernment-action-plan-2016-2020/) - On the 5th of November 2015, ECAS’ Digital Democracy and Campaigning Coordinator, Elisa Lironi, was invited as a speaker to the second workshop on the new EU eGovernment Action Plan organised by Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology (DG CONNECT). The EU eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 focused on developing eGovernment services, strengthening the - [Participate in the YEA Chat on Healthcare Abroad in the EU on 17 November](https://ecas.org/participate-yea-chat-healthcare-abroad-eu-17-november/) - Do you have questions about your healthcare entitlements when moving to another EU country? As an EU citizen, when you move to another EU country you can get healthcare under the same conditions as other local residents. However, health care and social security systems differ from one country to another, as well as the rules determining who is - [Save the Date: Enabling Civil e-Participation in Europe Conference on 8 December](https://ecas.org/save-the-date-for-enabling-civil-e-participation-in-europe-conference-on-8-december/) - On the 8th of December 2015, from 1pm to 4pm, Telecentre Europe is organising a Conference entitled "Enabling Civil E-Participation in Europe" at the European Parliament in Brussels, which will be followed by a cocktail. The half-day conference consists of two panels: The role of ICT in active citizenship, moderated by MEP Gyorgy Schöpflin (EPP, Hungary), - [ECAS Furniture for Sale](https://ecas.org/ecas-furniture-for-sale/) - ECAS will be moving at the end of the month, and we are selling our furniture! We are selling: Desks Shelves Drawers Chairs Other Office Supplies So what are you waiting for? Buy something now! - [Live Chat on Heathcare in the EU on 17 November](https://ecas.org/live-chat-on-heathcare-in-the-eu-on-17-november/) - Our experts from the Your Europe Advice team, together with experts from DG Employment and DG Health of the European Commission, replied on Tuesday 17 November to several questions asked by citizens on their rights to healthcare in another EU country through a live Facebook chat. Questions addressed different issues faced by EU citizens when travelling, studying or living abroad - [Upholding Freedom of Movement and EU Citizens’ Rights in the PNR Directive](https://ecas.org/upholding-freedom-of-movement-and-eu-citizens-rights-in-the-pnr-directive/) - ECAS and the European Movement International (EMI) are very concerned about the implications that the proposed Passenger Name Record (PNR) Directive may have for free movement and fundamental rights of EU citizens. We have produced a join set of key recommendations that have been sent to the relevant EU decision-makers in the European Parliament, the - [ECAS' Reaction to the ENP Review](https://ecas.org/ecas-reaction-to-the-review-of-the-enp/) - In March 2015 the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, launched a public consultation on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which remained open until June 2015. ECAS submitted its contribution to this consultation, under which over 25o responses were received that been - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - November: Agreement on Free Circulation of Documents in the EU](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-november-agreement-on-free-circulation-of-documents-in-the-eu/) - The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament approved by 20 votes to 2 on 21 November 2015 a deal struck by Parliament and Council negotiators on new EU rules to facilitate the free movement of citizens by simplifying the requirements for presenting certain public documents in other EU Member States. The new rules are laid down - [Triple A Conference: The Challenges of Providing Free Legal Aid in the Western Balkans and Turkey](https://ecas.org/triple-a-conference-the-challenges-of-providing-free-legal-aid-in-the-western-balkans-and-turkey/) - Last week, the conference “Access to Justice and the Roles of CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey: From practice to policy impact” was held in Pristina from November 26-27. The Conference was put on by ECAS and its local partners, Civil Rights Program Kosovo (CRPK), who are working together along with several others on - [Paving the Road to Hell with Good Intentions, by ECAS Director](https://ecas.org/paving-the-road-to-hell-with-good-intentions-by-ecas-director-2/) - Europe is experiencing multiple crises. The influx of refugees and the terrorist attacks have created a framework in which core EU rights and freedoms are continuously challenged and major revisions of core EU policies seem possible as long as there is a promise for more security. Politicians seem to have forgotten however that everything comes - [ECAS' Contribution to the EU Citizenship Consultation – Summary of Key Recommendations](https://ecas.org/ecas-contribution-to-the-eu-citizenship-consultation-summary-of-key-recommendations/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) has the pleasure of submitting this Summary of 10 Recommendations in addition to its online response to the EU Citizenship Consultation. Our Mission and Projects ECAS is an international non-profit organisation, based in Brussels with a pan-European membership and 24 years of experience in working on EU issues. ECAS’s mission - [ECI Watch September](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-september/) - Read the ECI Watch now! Recent Developments - The AFCO Committee: The Final Vote! Campaigns - The Results of Democracy International's Email your MEPs Campaign The Latest ECI - The New ECI Launch: Fair Transport Europe - Equal Treatment for All Transport Workers - [ECI Watch November](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-november/) - Read the ECI Watch now! EU INSTITUTIONS - European Parliament Votes on New Rules to Improve the ECI - European Parliament Adopts an ECI Budget Line for 2016 THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Stop Plastic in the Sea ECI COMING SOON... - People For Soil - Common Borders - [Save the Date: ‘Security or Rights – Does it Have to Be an Either-Or Question?’](https://ecas.org/save-the-date-security-or-rights-does-it-have-to-be-an-either-or-question/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) and the European Movement International (EMI) are pleased to invite you to our joint event ‘Security or Rights – Does it have to be an either-or question?’ on the 13th of January at 6.30pm at the Residence Palace (rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels). Our panel will feature the following - [EU Values Called into Question at European Parliament’s Holistic Approach to Migration Debate](https://ecas.org/eu-values-called-into-question-at-european-parliaments-holistic-approach-to-migration-debate/) - On 23 September the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament held an inter-parliamentary committee meeting with the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Agencies and the national Parliaments of the Member States on a holistic approach to migration. The meeting was a follow-up to the Resolution of the EP adopted in - [AFCO Committee Approves its Common Position on the ECI Revision](https://ecas.org/afco-committee-approves-its-common-position-on-the-eci-revision/) - Last week the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) of the European Parliament approved a final report on the European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI). The draft report was presented in April 2015 and on the 28th of September the compromise amendments were voted upon. The compromise amendments proposed by the AFCO Committee highlighted the importance of fulfilling the - [Triple A Partners Provide Assistance to Refugees in the Western Balkans](https://ecas.org/triple-a-partners-provide-assistance-to-refugees-in-the-western-balkans/) - The partners and former pilot projects of Triple A, a project led by ECAS focusing on reforms to free legal aid in the Western Balkans and Turkey, have been busy. With the influx of migrants and refugees passing through the region, we have heard from several local organizations (currently or formerly involved in the project) about - [Civil Society Europe Calls on Leaders of European Institutions Meeting for the European Council to set up a Structured Dialogue on Migration](https://ecas.org/civil-society-europe-calls-on-leaders-of-european-institutions-meeting-for-the-european-council-to-set-up-a-structured-dialogue-on-migration/) - Civil Society Europe is concerned by the lack of a coordinated and adequate response that is exacerbating fear, racism, and indifference among citizens in Europe, as well as by the violations of human rights experienced by migrants and refugees. We stress that the current “refugee and migrant crisis” will not cease in the short term - [Countering Euroscepticism: ECAS participates in a capacity-building programme](https://ecas.org/countering-euroscepticism-ecas-participates-in-a-capacity-building-programme/) - On Tuesday 13 October, ECAS’ Membership and Outreach Manager, Marta Pont, moderated a panel on strategies to counter Euroscepticism as part of a 5-day capacity building programme, “How to Counter Right-Wing Populism and Extremism in Europe”, which was organised by the Heinrich Boll Stiftung EU Office. The capacity building involved 16 young Europeans from France, Germany, - [Cultural Centres in the Age of Digitalization](https://ecas.org/cultural-centres-age-digitalization/) - On Thursday 15 October, ECAS’ Digital Democracy and Campaigning Coordinator Elisa Lironi was invited to speak at the Travelling Academy, which was organised by the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC). The Travelling Academy was a three-day seminar in Krakow which gathered representatives of cultural centres to debate on ‘Reinventing Forms of Civic Participation and - [ECAS at the European Civic Days](https://ecas.org/european-civic-days/) - On October 22 and 23, ECAS’ Project Coordinator Tristan Barber attended the European Civic Days at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The event was put on by the European Civic Forum, who was celebrating the tenth anniversary of its inception. Over one hundred civil society organizations from throughout Europe met at the Civic Days - [European Parliament Votes on New Rules to Improve the ECI](https://ecas.org/european-parliament-votes-new-rules-improve-eci/) - On the 28th of October 2015, the European Parliament’s resolution 2014/2257 on the European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI) was approved with a convincing majority of 527 votes (103 abstentions and 33 rejections). The long session in Strasbourg was considered by the rapporteur György Schöpflin MEP in a largely consensual process. In the press conference after the - [Join us in Cyprus to Debate Opportunities for Citizen Engagement with EU Institutions](https://ecas.org/join-us-in-cyprus-to-debate-opportunities-for-citizen-engagement-with-eu-institutions/) - Our partner in Cyprus, the NGO Support Centre, is organizing a public debate entitled “Civil Society and the EU” on the 6th of November in Nicosia. The debate will take place at the EU House in Nicosia and will explore the ways citizens and Civil Society Organizations can actively participate in and influence the policy making - [The Commission Sets Out its Priorities for 2016](https://ecas.org/commission-sets-priorities-2016/) - On 27 October 2015, in the framework of a European Parliament plenary sitting in Strasbourg, the European Commission adopted its annual Work Programme for 2016, which sets out a detailed plan of action for the next twelve months and informs the public and the co-legislators of the Commission’s political commitments to present new initiatives, withdraw - [Bottlenecks in the Implementation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive](https://ecas.org/bottlenecks-implementation-cross-border-healthcare-directive/) - The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) released a report last October on the implementation of Directive 2011/24/EU (the so-called Cross-Border Healthcare Directive), which clarifies the rights of patients to seek reimbursement when travelling abroad for the purpose of receiving healthcare treatments. The Commission released its first report on the implementation of this Directive in September - [Triple A Regional Conference in Pristina November 26-27th](https://ecas.org/triple-a-regional-conference-in-pristina/) - ECAS is organizing a Regional Conference in Pristina, Kosovo, on November 26-27 with its partners Civil Rights Projects Kosovo. The event will be held in the scope of the Triple A (Access to Information, Advice, and Active Help Services) project and will address several different topics: How the ongoing migration/refugee crisis is affecting the Western - [Freedom of movement for workers: Alimanovic’s case](https://ecas.org/freedom-movement-workers-alimanovics-case/) - A recent case at the Court of Justice of the EU, “Jobcenter Berlin Neukölln v Nazifa, Sonita, Valentina and Valentino Alimanovic (C-67/14)”, once again raises issues pertinent to free movement and social benefits. It calls upon the Court to decide whether a Member State can deny certain social benefits to an EU Migrant job-seeker who - [Follow live the event on Ending the "limbo" in Europe](https://ecas.org/follow-live-event-ending-limbo-europe/) - On May 29, 2015 at 10:00 in Matti’d Hall (1 Bulgaria Blvd., Sofia) the debate “Ending the „limbo“* in Europe: Initiative for improved implementation of the rights of the EU citizens residing in another country of the EU” will take place. * In current EU jargon “in a limbo” refers to EU citizens residing in - [Deutsche Bank backs up ECAS' findings on the positive impact of EU migration](https://ecas.org/deutsche-bank-endorses-ecas-findings-positive-impact-eu-immigration/) - A new Deutsche Bank Research Briefing reviews and analyses the effects of EU free movement, paying particular attention to social security and concerns about "benefit tourism". Deutsche Bank drew upon ECAS' earlier work in its report, referencing ECAS' recent publication "Fiscal Impact of EU Migrants in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK", and drawing upon and agreeing with the - [ECAS at COFOE Plenary](https://ecas.org/ecas-at-cofoe-plenary/) - How can e-governance shape the future of European Democracy? This was the underlying question of Elisa Lironi’s intervention. She spoke at the third plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Elisa outlined the main priorities for the EU to ensure a new level of participation and citizenship online. On 21 January, Elisa Lironi - [ECI Watch April](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-april-2017/) - Read the ECI Watch here! EU INSTITUTIONS - ECAS Welcomes Timmermans’ Announcement to Revise the ECI Regulation - Follow-up to 'Right to Water' ECI ECI EVENTS - ECI Day 2017 - I participate! - Design Your ECI Platform! (DEADLINE: SUNDAY 23 APRIL 2017) THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - EU Citizenship for Europeans: United in Diverity in - [Citizenship - Participation - Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!](https://ecas.org/citizenship-participation-policies-building-europe-from-grassroots-up/) - From 29 - 31 May the Citizen Participation Forum will hold the following conference 'Citizenship - Participation - Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!' at the Perito club in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event will be will be held under the patronage of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and it will be - [EU Rights in the Spotlight](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-2/) - On 11 November, the European Court of Justice delivered an important judgement (Dano case) concerning access to social benefits by economically inactive EU citizens. This judgement could have an important impact in deterring people from benefit tourism. The decision in the case C-333/13 Elisabeta Dano and Florin Dano v. Jobcenter Leipzig was delivered on the - [EU Rights in the Spotlight](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-3/) - In May 2015 the Advocate General of the ECJ, Juliane Kokott, resolved an important legal tangle in rules on residency rights in the opinion she presented to the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning the Case C-218/14. This particular case concerned three third-country nationals from India, Cameroon and Egypt who were married and - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - February](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-february/) - In February 2016, the European Court of Justice (EJC) issued two important rulings, both of which having implications for those who make use of their right to free movement in the EU. The first ruling on February 4, 2016 concerns a case brought to the Court by the Supreme Court of Spain and the UK’s - [Press release: ECAS calls for a Brussels ‘wake-up’ after Brexit outcome](https://ecas.org/press-release-ecas-calls-brussels-wake-brexit-outcome/) - Today is a historical juncture for Europe. The nightmare feared by many in the past few months has become true. A majority of Britons have voted to leave the European Union, with the possibility of triggering the withdrawal clause which had never been used so far. Whilst ECAS regrets the outcome of the British referendum to leave - [The REFIT Platform Supports ECAS' Call to Make the ECI 'Fit for Purpose'](https://ecas.org/refit-platform-supports-ecas-call-make-eci-fit-purpose/) - REFIT Recommendation to Improve the ECI Published Today As a member of the Stakeholders’ Group of the REFIT Platform, ECAS submitted an evidence-based opinion calling for a a revision of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Regulation. This opinion, which has been made public today, was endorsed by the other members of the REFIT Platform and it was presented to the Commission's Vice-President Timmermans on 28 - [Read Our Joint Statement to EU Leaders Ahead of the Bratislava Summit](https://ecas.org/read-joint-statement-eu-leaders-ahead-bratislava-summit/) - ECAS, together with over 177 other civil society organisations and trade unions, has put forward a common statement on what the future of Europe should look like. This common statement comes out in the week in which the President of the European Commissioner, Jean-Claude Juncker, will deliver his second State of the European Union speech, and - [ECAS Welcomes the EP’s Draft Position on the Europe for Citizens Programme](https://ecas.org/ecas-welcomes-draft-position-on-the-europe-for-citizens-programme/) - ECAS participated in the rapporteur’s consultations with civil society On 17 October, MEP María Teresa Barbat, who is preparing the European Parliament’s position on the mid-term review of the Europe for Citizens programme, submitted a draft report on the programme. This draft report draws on the input provided by a number of stakeholders and civil - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - January](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-spotlight-jan/) - In December 2016, the European Court of Justice issued two important rulings on child benefits applicable to EU cross-border workers, both concerning Luxembourg. In the first case, the Court ruled that by making the receipt of a study grant by a child of a frontier worker conditional upon a continuous period of five years of - [Our Response to the Public Consultation on EU Social Security Coordination](https://ecas.org/response-consultation-social-security/) - In reponse to the European Commission's public consultation on EU social security coordination on the revision of Regulations (EC) No 883/2004 and (EC) No 987/2009, which closed on 7 October 2015, ECAS made the following recommendations: Recommendation 1: A new provision should be inserted into Regulation 883/2004 that explicitly provides for the right of EU citizens - [ECI Watch June](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-june-2017/) - Read the ECI Watch here EU INSTITUTIONS - Public Consultation on the ECI - Time to Share Your Views! - REFIT Platform Opinion on Improving the ECI IN THE NEWS - The ECJ Rules in Favour of "STOP TTIP" THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - Retaining European Citizenship - Reduce Wage and Economic Differences - Stop - [ECI Watch August](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-august-2017/) - Read the ECI Watch here. EU INSTITUTIONS - Public Consultation on the ECI - Don't Forget to Share Your Views!- The European Parliament's Draft Legislative Report - European Ombudsman Letter on Improving the ECI THE LATEST ECI LAUNCH - STOP TTIP - [ECI Watch October](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-october-2/) - Read the ECI Watch here. EU INSTITUTIONS - Reform Proposal Promises to Make the European Citizens' Initiative ‘Fit for Purpose’ - REFIT Opinion on the ECI: What's in and what's out? 1 MILLION SIGNATURES REACHED - ECI 'Stop Glyphosate' JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT - One Million Signatures for a Europe of Solidarity - [ECI Watch December](https://ecas.org/eci-watch-december-2/) - Read the ECI Watch here. EU INSTITUTIONS - AFCO and PETI Committees - Exchange of views with First Vice-President Frans TIMMERMANS FOLLOW-UP - ECI 'Stop Glyphosate' - Results of the Online Public Consultation on the ECI LOOKING BACK AT 2017 - 2017 ECIs by the Numbers - [Members Profile - Meet Caritas Europa](https://ecas.org/members-profile-meet-caritas-europa/) - Caritas Europa is the regional network of 49 members in 46 countries, which makes it one of the major social actors in Europe. Their activities vary among countries but all share the heartfelt commitment to fight poverty and social exclusion. Caritas Europa promotes true integral human development, social justice and sustainable social systems in Europe - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - June](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-june/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features one European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgments affecting EU citizenship: The German vignette for the use by passenger vehicles of federal roads is contrary to EU law On June 18th, the European Court of Justice ruled that the "infrastructure use charge" introduced by Germany to charge passenger vehicles - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - October](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-june-2/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features a European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgments affecting EU citizenship: Income from employment without a lawful work permit can be used to prove 'sufficient resources' On 2 October 2019, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) delivered an important decision, clarifying the ‘sufficient resources’ condition of Article 7(1)(b) - [EU Rights in the Spotlight](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-4/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings regarding the Freedom of Movement: February 4th 2020: Freedom of Movement - Workers' Rights National legislation which restricts the grant of a benefit introduced for top-level sportspersons to citizens of the Member State concerned is an impediment to the freedom of - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - June](https://ecas.org/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-june-3/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings regarding 'EU Citizenship' and 'Freedom of Movement for Workers': June 18th 2020: EU Citizenship - Right of entry to a Member State of a third-country national who is a member of the family of an EU citizen On June 18th, the ## Pages - [Homepage](https://ecas.org/) - ECAS is a Brussels-based NGO with 30+ years’ experience in empowering citizens, defending rights, and strengthening democratic participation across Europe. - [Atelier ICE : formulaire d’inscription](https://ecas.org/atelier-ice-formulaire-dinscription/) - [ECI Workshop: Registration form](https://ecas.org/eci-workshop-registration-form/) - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/cee-anti-disinformation-campaign-workshop/) - [Annual activity reports](https://ecas.org/annual-activity-reports/) - [About ECAS](https://ecas.org/about-ecas/) - Learn about ECAS, a leading nonprofit empowering citizens’ rights and democracy across Europe through advocacy, research, and digital tools. - [Формуляр за регистрация](https://ecas.org/lyatna-akademiya-ecas-starosel-2026/) - [Konsekvensbedömning – Europeiska kommissionens vägledning om EU-medborgares och deras familjemedlemmars rätt till fri rörlighet](https://ecas.org/frageformular-se/) - [Measúnú tionchair – treoraíocht an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh maidir leis an gceart chun saorghluaiseachta atá ag saoránaigh an AE agus ag a mbaill teaghlaigh](https://ecas.org/ceistneoir-ga/) - [Analyse d’impact – Orientations de la Commission européenne sur la libre circulation des citoyens de l’Union et des members de leur famille](https://ecas.org/questionnaire-fr/) - [Valutazione d’impatto – Orientamenti della Commissione Europea sul diritto alla libera circolazione dei cittadini dell’Unione e delle loro famiglie.](https://ecas.org/questionario-it/) - [Impact assessment – European Commission guidance on the right to free movement of EU citizens and their family members](https://ecas.org/questionnaire-en/) - [Konsekvensanalyse – Europa-Kommissionens vejledning om EU-borgeres og deres familiemedlemmers ret til fri bevægelighed](https://ecas.org/sporgeskema-dk/) - [Avaliação de impacto – Orientações da Comissão Europeia sobre o direito à livre circulação dos cidadãos da UE e dos seus familiares](https://ecas.org/questionario-pt/) - [Thank you for confirming your registration for this event.](https://ecas.org/registration-cross-border-telework-training-luxembourg/) - You’re all set! 🎉 Thank you for registering for the webinar “Cross-border telework training – Luxembourg”, taking place online on 29 September from 09:00 to 12:00. We look forward to seeing you there! - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/cross-border-telework-training-luxembourg-registration/) - [Thank you for your valuable feedback!](https://ecas.org/ecas-day-2026-feedback-form/) - Thank you for completing the ECAS Day 2026 feedback form.We appreciate your insights—they help us understand what went well and how we can improve future events. - [ECAS Day 2026](https://ecas.org/ecas-day-feedback-form/) - [Activity Report](https://ecas.org/activity-report/) - [ECAS Branch in Central and Eastern Europe](https://ecas.org/ecas-branch-in-central-and-eastern-europe/) - [Training Centre](https://ecas.org/training-centre/) - Explore the ECAS Training Centre offering expert-led courses, online workshops, and capacity building for NGOs and professionals. Enhance your skills today. - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/winning-campaigns-narratives-content-and-inclusive-outreach/) - [Mission & Vision](https://ecas.org/mission-vision/) - ECAS works to strengthen democratic participation, civic inclusion, and EU rights across Europe. - [Members](https://ecas.org/members/) - ECAS members collaborate to drive civic participation, protect rights, and influence EU policy. Be part of a network creating meaningful change. - [Регистрация за събитие](https://ecas.org/регистрация-за-събитие-2/) - [Благодарим Ви! Вие успешно се регистрирахте за хибридния семинар по проект ПАКТ " Дигиталната трансформация и ролята на гражданското общество."](https://ecas.org/потвърждение-2/) - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/cso-impact-disinformation-democracy/) - [Formulario de inscripción](https://ecas.org/formulario-de-inscripcion/) - Inscripción a la formación sobre la libre circulación de los ciudadanos. Regístrese para participar en el evento. - [Gracias por su inscripción en la formación sobre la libre circulación de los ciudadanos – España.](https://ecas.org/formacion-libre-circulacion-espana-2026/) - ¡Todo está listo! Recibirá un correo electrónico con más detalles sobre la formación. Nos alegra darle la bienvenida el 6 de octubre de 2026, de forma presencial o en línea. - [Merci pour votre inscription à la formation sur la libre circulation des citoyens- France.](https://ecas.org/merci-pour-votre-inscription-a-la-formation-sur-la-libre-circulation-des-citoyens-france/) - Tout est prêt! Vous allez recevoir un e-mail avec de plus amples détails sur la formation. Nous nous réjouissons de vous recevoir le 15 septembre 2026, en personne ou en ligne. - [Formulaire d’inscription](https://ecas.org/formulaire-dinscription-pour-formation-sur-la-libre-de-circulation-france/) - [Благодарим Ви! Вие успешно се регистрирахте за хибридния семинар по проект ПАКТ "Справедлив преход: приобщаване и равнопоставено участие.](https://ecas.org/потвърждение/) - [Регистрация за събитие](https://ecas.org/регистрация-за-събитие/) - [Publications](https://ecas.org/publications/) - Read ECAS publications on EU rights, civic innovation, and policy development. Stay informed with research shaping participation across Europe. - [Meet the team](https://ecas.org/meet-the-team/) - Meet the team. ECAS staff members empower European citizens through advocacy, policy expertise and inclusive initiatives across the EU. - [Contact](https://ecas.org/contact/) - Need help with EU rights or civic initiatives? Contact ECAS for expert guidance on transparency, citizen engagement, and European policy support. - [Events](https://ecas.org/our-events/) - Explore our events at ECAS, including EU policy webinars, workshops and conferences. Stay informed, connect with experts and engage in civic action. - [ECAS Networking Facility - Login](https://ecas.org/membership-login/) - ECAS Networking Facility Login. Access your account and connect, build partnerships and collaborate with ECAS member organisations. - [News](https://ecas.org/news/) - Stay up to date with ECAS news, featuring insights on European democracy, rights, and policy changes affecting citizens. - [Tenders and Vacancies](https://ecas.org/vacancies/) - Discover the latest tenders and vacancies at ECAS. Explore NGO jobs and opportunities, while helping build a more inclusive and stronger European Union. - [EU Rights](https://ecas.org/eu-rights/) - Understand your EU rights and how to exercise them. Access clear guidance on freedoms, protections, and opportunities in the EU. - [EU Democracy](https://ecas.org/eu-democracy/) - ECAS: Learn how EU democracy promotes transparency, civic participation, and citizen influence using democracy tools that help shape EU policies and decisions. - [Thank you for registering for the "ECAS Day 2026"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-ecas-day-2026/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering for the "ECAS Day 2026." You will receive an email closer to the event date. - [Registration form "ECAS Day 2026"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-ecas-day-2026/) - To participate in the event “ECAS Day 2026: Strengthening Europe’s Societal Resilience in a Changing World”, please fill out the registration form. - [Registration form "Synergy Webinar 2: Media Resilience in Times of Elections"](https://ecas.org/synergy-webinar-2-media-resilience-in-times-of-elections/) - [Thank you for registering for Synergy Webinar 2: Media Resilience in Times of Elections.](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-synergy-webinar-2-media-resilience-in-times-of-elections/) - You're all set! You will soon receive an email with the details to join Synergy Webinar 2: Media Resilience in Times of Elections. We look forward to seeing you there! - [Registration form - SOTEU 2026](https://ecas.org/registration-form-soteu-2026/) - [Thank you for registering for the "State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2026" conference!](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2026-conference/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2026' conference. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Thank you for confirming your registration for this event.](https://ecas.org/techno-democracy-coalition-event/) - You’re all set! You’ll receive an email shortly with further details about the event. We look forward to welcoming you in Leuven. - [Techno-Democracy Coalition](https://ecas.org/techno-democracy-coalition/) - [Focusgroep over stemrecht van mobiele EU-burgers](https://ecas.org/focusgroep-over-stemrecht-van-mobiele-eu-burgers-registratieformulier/) - [Bedankt voor uw inschrijving voor de focusgroep over het stemrecht van mobiele EU-burgers.](https://ecas.org/bedankt-voor-uw-inschrijving-voor-de-focusgroep-over-het-stemrecht-van-mobiele-eu-burgers/) - U bent er helemaal klaar voor! U ontvangt binnenkort een e-mail met verdere details over het bijwonen van de focusgroep. Wij kijken ernaar uit u online te verwelkomen op 17 februari. - [Registration form for Grant-making to ECAS Members 2026 - information webinar](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-grant-making-to-ecas-members-2026-information-webinar/) - [Call for proposals 2026 - Application form](https://ecas.org/call-for-proposals-2026-application-form/) - [Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering to the information session on the Grant-Making to ECAS Members in the EU 2026 call for proposal](https://ecas.org/your-submission-was-successful-thank-you-for-registering-to-the-information-session-on-the-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2026-call-for-proposal/) - [](https://ecas.org/registration-form-ideu-event/) - [](https://ecas.org/fifth-freedom-input/) - [Thank you for submitting your responses to the fifth freedom questionnaire](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-submitting-your-responses-to-the-fifth-freedom/) - Your submission was successful. Should your submission require any follow-up, we will contact you. - [Feedback form](https://ecas.org/feedback-form/) - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/registration-form-mediaresilience/) - [Final reporting - Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU 2025](https://ecas.org/final-reporting-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2025/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you! - [Form "Final reporting - Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU 2025"](https://ecas.org/form-final-reporting-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2025/) - [ERIC](https://ecas.org/eric/) - [Formulário de inscrição](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-freedom-of-movement-training-portugal-2025/) - [Obrigado(a) por se inscrever na "Formação sobre a Livre Circulação – Portugal" 2025.](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-portugal-2025/) - Está tudo pronto! Receberá um e-mail com todos os detalhes para participar do evento. - [Info Form](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-innovation-for-democracy-pitch-competition/) - [Thank you for confirming your registration to the “Innovation for Democracy” Pitch Competition](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-innovation-for-democracy-pitch-competition/) - You're all set. You will receive an email with the details about attending the “Innovation for Democracy” Pitch Competition. We look forward to welcoming you in Leuven! - [ECAS Day 2025](https://ecas.org/feedback-form-ecas-day-2025/) - [Thank you for registering for the "ECAS Day"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-ecas-day-2025/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering for the "ECAS Day 2025." You will receive an email closer to the event date. - [Thank you for registering for the "European Summer Academy Starosel 2025"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-european-summer-academy-starosel/) - Your submission was successful. You will receive a confirmation email with further details closer to the event date, which will take place from 23 to 26 September 2025. - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/european-summer-academy-starosel/) - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/focus-group-portugal/) - [Teleworking](https://ecas.org/eric/teleworking/) - ERIC on Cross-Border Teleworking Rights in the EU Described by the European Labour Authority as a “commonly increasing phenomenon,” cross-border telework allows EU citizens and their family members to live and work from any Member State of the EU. While this flexibility opens up exciting opportunities, it can also be challenging for employees, employers, and - [Registration form "ECAS Day 2025"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-ecas-day/) - [Thank you for registering to the "Cross-border telework training - Germany"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-cross-border-telework-training-germany/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Cross-border telework training - Germany'. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form for "Cross-border telework training - Germany"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-cross-border-telework-training-germany/) - [Thank you for registering to the "Freedom of Movement Training - Ireland" 2025](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-ireland-2025/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Freedom of Movement Training - Ireland'. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form for "Freedom of Movement Training - Ireland" 2025](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-freedom-of-movement-training-ireland-2025/) - [Thank you for registering to the "Freedom of Movement Training - Sweden"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-sweden/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Freedom of Movement Training - Sweden'. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form for "Freedom of Movement Training - Sweden"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-in-stockholm/) - [Registration form "9th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-9th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Thank you for registering for the "9th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-9th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering for the "9th BOLSTER Regional Policy Dialogue." You will receive an email closer to the event date. - [Registration form - SOTEU 2025](https://ecas.org/registration-form-soteu-2025/) - [Thank you for registering for the "State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2025" conference!](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2025-conference/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2025' conference. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form "Digital Inclusion Breakfast"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-digital-inclusion-breakfast/) - [Thank you for registering for the "8th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-8th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering for the "8th BOLSTER Regional Policy Dialogue." You will receive an email closer to the event date. - [Registration form "8th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-8th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Welcome to our Networking Facility!](https://ecas.org/dashboard/) - Connect, build partnerships and collaborate with ECAS member organisations. - [pact](https://ecas.org/pact/) - [Registration Form](https://ecas.org/registration-form-launch-event-crowdsourcing-citizens-perspectives-on-belgiums-digital-challenges/) - [Майсторски клас Въздействие върху „колебаещата се“ среда и защита от негативни кампании](https://ecas.org/майсторски-клас-въздействие-върху-к/) - [Благодарим ви, че се регистрирате за майсторския клас „Въздействие върху „колебащата се“ среда и защита от негативни кампании“.](https://ecas.org/майсторски-клас-въздействие-върху-ко/) - [Membership Facility - Newsletter](https://ecas.org/membership-facility-newsletter/) - Do you want to be featured in our newsletter? Let us know! Submit your input before the last week of each month! - [ECAS Networking Facility - Registration](https://ecas.org/member-registration/) - [Registration form for Grant-making to ECAS Members 2025 - information webinar](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-grant-making-to-ecas-members-2025-information-webinar/) - [Call for proposals 2025 - Application form](https://ecas.org/call-for-proposals-2025-application-form/) - [Your submission was successful! Thank you for applying for "Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU 2025" call for proposals.](https://ecas.org/your-submission-was-successful-thank-you-for-participating-in-ecas-grant-making-to-its-members-in-the-eu-call-for-proposals/) - [Find a partner](https://ecas.org/membership-facility-partners/) - Discover our network and how they can support your projects and promote your organisation's growth. - [Membership Facility - Update business](https://ecas.org/membership-facility-update-business/) - [Membership Facility - Claim Business](https://ecas.org/membership-facility-claim-business/) - [Membership facility - Become Partner](https://ecas.org/membership-facility-become-partner/) - Become a partner! - [Майсторски клас по проекта "Права и ценности](https://ecas.org/регистрация-за-събитието-как-утвържд/) - [Thank you for registering for the "Webinar on how to organise inclusive events"](https://ecas.org/webinar-on-how-to-organise-inclusive-events-2/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering to the "Webinar on how to organise inclusive events". A email will be sent to you closer to the event date. - [Registration form "Webinar on how to organise inclusive events"](https://ecas.org/webinar-on-how-to-organise-inclusive-events/) - [Form "Final reporting - Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU 2024"](https://ecas.org/form-final-reporting-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2024/) - [Final reporting - Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU 2024](https://ecas.org/final-reporting-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2024/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you! - [Registration form "ECAS’s 10th Anniversary Digital Democracy Day 2024"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-ecass-10th-anniversary-digital-democracy-day-2024/) - [Thank you for registering for the7th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-7th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - You're all set! Thank you for registering for the regional policy dialogue - How can Territorial Just Transition Plans be truly inclusive towards marginalised communities? Access details will be sent to you closer to the event date. - [Registration form "7th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-7th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Thank you for registering for the "ECAS’s 10th Anniversary Digital Democracy Day 2024"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-ecass-10th-anniversary-digital-democracy-day-2024/) - You're all set! Thank you for registering for "ECAS's 10th Anniversary Digital Democracy Day 2024—Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue!" We look forward to seeing you there! You will receive an email closer to the event date. - [Mission Test](https://ecas.org/mission-test/) - [Thank you for registering for the 6th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-6th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - You're all set! The link to join the online event "6th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue - The Just Transition Mechanism as a way to tackle energy poverty: Perspectives from Romania and beyond" will be sent to you closer to the event date. We look forward to seeing you there! - [Registration form "6th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Merci pour votre inscription à la formation sur la libre circulation des citoyens- Belgique.](https://ecas.org/merci-pour-votre-inscription-a-la-formation-sur-la-libre-circulation-des-citoyens-belgique/) - Tout est prêt! Vous allez recevoir un e-mail avec de plus amples détails sur la formation. Nous nous réjouissons de vous recevoir le 30 septembre 2024, en personne ou en ligne. - [Merci pour votre inscription à la formation sur la libre circulation des citoyens- Luxembourg.](https://ecas.org/merci-pour-votre-inscription-a-la-formation-sur-la-libre-circulation-des-citoyens-luxembourg/) - Tout est prêt! Vous allez recevoir un e-mail avec de plus amples détails sur la formation. Nous nous réjouissons de vous recevoir le 17 septembre 2024, en personne ou en ligne. - [Vrijheid van verkeer van EU-burgers - Registratieformulier](https://ecas.org/vrijheid-van-verkeer-van-eu-burgers-registratieformulier/) - [Bedankt voor uw inschrijving voor de training over 'Vrijheid van verkeer van EU-burgers' in Leuven.](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-leuven/) - U bent er helemaal klaar voor! U ontvangt een email met verdere details aangaande het bijwonen van de training over 'Vrijheid van verkeer van EU-burgers' in Leuven. We zien ernaar uit u fysiek of online op 3 oktober te ontmoeten bij het Iers College in Leuven. - [Freedom of movement training- Registration form](https://ecas.org/freedom-of-movement-training-registration-form-lu/) - [Thank you for registering to the “Freedom of Movement Training – Luxembourg.”](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-luxembourg/) - You’re all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the "Freedom of Movement Training – Luxembourg". We look forward to seeing you there. - [Freedom of movement training- Registration form](https://ecas.org/freedom-of-movement-training-registration-form/) - [Thank you for registering to the “Freedom of Movement Training – Belgium.”](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-belgium/) - You’re all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the ‘Freedom of Movement Training – Belgium. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Formulaire d’inscription pour «Formation sur la libre de circulation - Belgique»](https://ecas.org/formulaire-dinscription-pour-formation-sur-la-libre-de-circulation-belgique/) - [Formulaire d’inscription pour «Formation sur la libre de circulation - Luxembourg»](https://ecas.org/formulaire-dinscription-pour-formation-sur-la-libre-de-circulation-luxembourg/) - [Thank you for registering for the "Crowdsourcing and Policy-Making in Europe"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-crowdsourcing-and-policy-making-in-europe/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering to the "Crowdsourcing and Policy-Making in Europe - Lunch & Learn!". A email will be sent to you closer to the event date. - [Registration form "Crowdsourcing and Policy-Making in Europe"](https://ecas.org/crowdsourcing-and-policy-making-in-europe/) - [Thank you for registering for the "5th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-5th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - You're all set! The link to join the online event "5th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue - Beyond the mines – Leveraging culture for a just transition in former mining regions" will be sent to you closer to the event date. We look forward to seeing you there! - [Registration form "5th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-5th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Vote for Europe 2024](https://ecas.org/vote-for-europe-2024/) - [Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in Belgium - Round Table](https://ecas.org/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-belgium-focus-group/) - [Thank you for registering for the "4th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-4th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - You're all set! The link to join the online event "4th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue - Green transition and citizen participation: how to foster an inclusive engagement?" will be sent to you closer to the event date. We look forward to seeing you there! - [Registration form "4th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-4th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Registration form "Tackling Disinformation and Building Successful Campaigns"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-tackling-disinformation-and-building-successful-campaigns/) - [Registration form for “Webinar on Digital Democracy”](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-webinar-on-digital-democracy/) - [Thank you for registering for the "3rd BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-3rd-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - You're all set! The link to join the online event "3rd BOLSTER regional policy dialogue - Youth and Just Transition – between disengagement and active participation" will be sent to you closer to the event date. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form "3rd BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-3rd-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Registration form "Presentation of projects' results - ECAS' Grant-making to its Members in the EU 2023"](https://ecas.org/presentation-of-projects-results-ecas-grant-making-to-its-members-in-the-eu-2023/) - [Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering to the information session on the Grant-Making to ECAS Members in the EU 2024 call for proposal](https://ecas.org/your-submission-was-successful-thank-you-for-participating-in-online-information-session-call-for-proposals/) - [Thank you for registering for the "Presentation of projects' results - ECAS' Grant-making to its Members in the EU 2023"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-presentation-of-projects-results-ecas-grant-making-to-its-members-in-the-eu-2023/) - Your submission was successful! Thank you for registering to the "Presentation of projects' results - ECAS' Grant-making to its Members in the EU 2023". The link to join the online event will be sent to you closer to the event date. - [Registration form - SOTEU 2024](https://ecas.org/registration-form-soteu-2024/) - [Thank you for registering for the "State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2024" conference!](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2024-conference/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2024' conference. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form for Grant-making to ECAS Members 2024 - information webinar](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2024-information-session/) - [Call for proposals 2024 - Application form](https://ecas.org/call-for-proposals-2024-application-form/) - [Thank you for registering to attend our Holiday Party!](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-ecas-holiday-party/) - You're all set! We look forward to celebrating with you! - [Registration form for "ECAS Holiday Party”](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-webinar-on-ecas-holiday-party/) - [Регистрация за събитието "Дигитална трансформация, която работи за всички"](https://ecas.org/digital-transformation-event-bulgaria/) - [Registration form for “Webinar on Implementing a Training Activity”](https://ecas.org/webinar-on-implementing-a-training-activity/) - [Registration form for "A Digital Transformation in Bulgaria that leaves no one behind"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-a-digital-transformation-that-leaves-no-one-behind-in-europe/) - [Registration Form](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-webinar-on-gender-inclusive-language/) - [Registration form for "2nd BOLSTER Project regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-2nd-bolster-project-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Thank you for registering for the "2nd BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-2nd-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Thank you for registering for the 2nd BOLSTER regional policy dialogue - Just Transition WITH and FOR local economic actors. The link to join the online event will be sent to you closer to the event date. - [Civil Society Accelerator](https://ecas.org/training-centre/civil-society-accelerator/) - Service Description New and old Civil Society Organisations in Europe are at the heart of European Development. Article 15 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) recognises civil society’s role in European good governance. While activists in Europe are determined to promote innovation and social justice on various causes, they need to - [Registration form for "1st BOLSTER Project regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-1st-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - [Thank you for registering for the "1st BOLSTER regional policy dialogue"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-1st-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - You're all set! The link to join the online event "1st BOLSTER regional policy dialogue - Challenges and lessons learned for leaving no one behind in green transitions" will be sent to you closer to the event date. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form for "Democracy Lab Event"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-democracy-lab/) - [ECAS Privacy Policy](https://ecas.org/privacy-policy/) - ECAS Privacy Policy We are delighted that you have shown interest in our organisation. Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the management of European Citizen Action Service – ECAS. The use of the Internet pages of ECAS is possible without any indication of personal data; however, if a data subject wants to - [Thank you for registering to the "Freedom of Movement Training - Sweden"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Freedom of Movement Training - Sweden'. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Thank you for registering to the "Freedom of Movement Training - Germany"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-to-the-freedom-of-movement-training-germany/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Freedom of Movement Training - Germany'. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Thank you for registering to the "Freedom of Movement Training - Ireland"](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-freedom-of-movement-training-ireland/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Freedom of Movement Training - Ireland'. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in Luxembourg - Focus Group](https://ecas.org/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-luxembourg-focus-group/) - [Registration form for "Freedom of Movement Training - Ireland"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-in-dublin/) - [Registration form for "Freedom of Movement Training - Germany"](https://ecas.org/registration-form-for-training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-in-berlin/) - [Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in Spain - Focus Group](https://ecas.org/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-spain-focus-group/) - [Your submission was successful! You will receive more information in your email.](https://ecas.org/your-submission-was-successful-you-will-receive-more-information-in-your-email/) - [Thank you for registering for the "State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2023" conference!](https://ecas.org/thank-you-for-registering-for-the-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2023-conference/) - You're all set! You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'State of the Union Citizen's Rights 2023' conference. We look forward to seeing you there. - [Registration form](https://ecas.org/online-information-session/) - [Production of Human Stories Videos Tender](https://ecas.org/production-of-human-stories-videos-tender-2/) - In view of launching a human stories campaign in early 2024 to illustrate the diversity of reasons that drive mobility in the European Union, especially those linked with values and emotions, ECAS will commission to an experienced contractor the development of a 10 visually attractive and dynamic videos of up to 5 minutes. Background A - [Application form for "Production of Human Stories Videos Tender"](https://ecas.org/application-form-for-production-of-human-stories-videos-tender/) - [Call for proposals - Application form](https://ecas.org/call-for-proposals-application-form/) - [Registration form - SOTEU 2023](https://ecas.org/registration-form-soteu-2023/) - [Webinar](https://ecas.org/webinar-for-members-7-12-2022/) - As in 2023, we are going to provide for the first time in the history of ECAS, grants to our CSO members in the EU, we are eager to share with you the priorities and the conditions of the Call for proposals we aim to launch already in February 2023! You are cordially invited to - [Subscribe to our newsletter](https://ecas.org/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/) - [Thank you for registering for the 'Love is in the air! Improving Air Quality in Europe through Citizen Action' Event](https://ecas.org/love-is-in-the-air-air-quality-event-thank-you/) - You're all set. You will receive an email with the details about attending the 'Love is in the air! Improving Air Quality in Europe through Citizen Action' event. We look forward to seeing you there. This event is supported by the Europe for Citizens funding initiative of the European Union. - [Governance](https://ecas.org/governance/) - [Past initiatives - Citizen's Hub](https://ecas.org/past-initiatives/citizens-hub/) - [Past initiatives - EU Rights](https://ecas.org/past-initiatives/eu-rights/) - [Past initiatives - EU Democracy](https://ecas.org/past-initiatives/eu-democracy/) - [Past Initiatives](https://ecas.org/past-initiatives/) - [Current Initiatives](https://ecas.org/current-initiatives/) - [Citizen’s Hub](https://ecas.org/citizens-hub/) - [User-friendly Gateways for Mobile EU Citizens](https://ecas.org/citizens-hub/user-friendly-gateways-for-mobile-eu-citizens/) - Travelling around the EU?Moving to another EU country?Find the most citizen-friendly information by country or by topic, below! Druk op de pijltoetsen om te navigeren.Gebruik ⌘ + scrollen om in en uit te zoomen op de kaart←Naar links→Naar rechts↑Omhoog↓Omlaag+Inzoomen-UitzoomenHome75% naar links schuivenEnd75% naar rechts schuivenPage Up75% omhoog schuivenPage Down75% omlaag schuivenKaartTerreinSatellietLabelsSneltoetsenKaartgegevensKaartgegevens ©2022 Google, INEGIKaartgegevens ©2022 - [Synergies with partners](https://ecas.org/institutional-partners/) - [Knowledge Centre](https://ecas.org/knowledge-centre/) - [Beyond the EU](https://ecas.org/beyond-the-eu/) - [The citizen-brexit-observatory](https://ecas.org/the-citizen-brexit-observatory/) - About this initiative The European Citizen Action Service, University of Sheffield School of Law and Law Centres Network have joined forces to create the Citizen Brexit Observatory in order to support the fair treatment of EU citizens living the UK and UK citizens living in the other countries of the EU. As part of the - [ECAS Awards 2020](https://ecas.org/ecas-awards-2020/) - Most EU Mobile Citizen-Friendly Location *Please note, the voting phase has now been closed. We will announce the winners at the ECAS State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference, taking place online January 21-22, 2021! We are excited to open up the vote for the “Most EU Mobile Citizen-Friendly Location”! The competition is rolling out - [ECI Forum - Expert Area](https://ecas.org/eci-expert-area/) - ECI Platform Enquiries - Premliminary Training Video Slides ECI-Platform-Inquiries-presentation-final-17-April-2018Download - [ECAS cookies policy](https://ecas.org/ecas-cookies-policy/) - What Are Cookies As is common practice with almost all professional websites this site uses cookies, which are tiny files that are downloaded to your computer, to improve your experience. This page describes what information they gather, how we use it and why we sometimes need to store these cookies. We will also share how - [Default page](https://ecas.org/default-page/) ## Events - [Formación sobre la libre circulación – España 2026](https://ecas.org/event/formacion-sobre-la-libre-circulacion-espana-2026/) - Tras haber adquirido una amplia experiencia en este ámbito, organizamos una formación gratuita dirigida a funcionarios públicos y organizaciones de la sociedad civil. El objetivo es sensibilizar a las administraciones locales y a la sociedad civil sobre los obstáculos actuales a la libre circulación y proporcionarles las herramientas necesarias para interpretar y aplicar la - [De l’idée à l’action européenne — Autour d’un café et de croissants : atelier sur l’initiative citoyenne européenne (ICE)](https://ecas.org/event/de-lidee-a-laction-europeenne-autour-dun-cafe-et-de-croissants-atelier-sur-linitiative-citoyenne-europeenne-ice/) - Vous avez une idée pour faire évoluer l’Europe ? Venez découvrir comment la transformer en initiative citoyenne européenne, autour d’un café et de croissants ! L’initiative citoyenne européene (ICE) permet aux citoyens de l’UE de faire entendre les sujets qui leur tiennent à cœur au niveau européen et d’inviter la Commission Européenne à proposer de nouvelles - [From Idea to European Action — Over Coffee & Croissants: European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Workshop](https://ecas.org/event/from-idea-to-european-action-over-coffee-croissants-european-citizens-initiative-eci-workshop/) - Have an idea for change in Europe? Learn how to turn it into a European Citizens’ Initiative – over coffee and croissants! The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) gives EU citizens the opportunity to put issues they care about on the European agenda and call on the European Commission to propose new laws. If an initiative reaches 1 - [Formation sur la libre circulation – France 2026](https://ecas.org/event/formation-sur-la-libre-circulation-france-2026/) - Forts de l’expertise précieuse que nous avons acquise dans ce domaine, nous organisons une formation gratuite destinée aux fonctionnaires et aux organisations de la société civile. L’objectif est de mieux sensibiliser les administrations locales et la société civile aux obstacles actuels à la libre circulation, en leur fournissant les outils nécessaires pour interpréter et mettre - [Cross-border telework training – Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/event/cross-border-telework-training-luxembourg/) - Described by the European Labour Authority as a “commonly increasing phenomenon”, cross-border telework gives the opportunity to EU citizens and their family members to live and work from any Member State of the EU. However, it can be sometimes difficult for employers, employees or self-employed citizens to navigate through the complexity of the immigration, - [ECAS Day 2026 (by invitation only)](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-day-2026/) - ECAS is pleased to invite you to ECAS Day 2026 on 25 June. This year’s edition will explore how Europe can strengthen societal resilience. - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2026 Conference](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2026-conference/) - Strengthening European identity in turbulent times: Citizenship, Belonging, and the Future of Knowledge in the EU The State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference is ECAS’s annual flagship event in its EU Rights focus area. It aims to take stock of recent developments in the European Citizenship domain and provide a platform for civil society, - [Synergy Webinar 2: Media Resilience in times of Elections](https://ecas.org/event/synergy-webinar-2-media-resilience-in-times-of-elections/) - As elections approach across Europe, media outlets are facing an increasingly complex challenge: disinformation spreads faster than ever, with particularly disruptive effects during election campaigns. This Synergy Webinar will explore how media organisations can strengthen their resilience and safeguard objectivity in these high-stakes moments. Moreover, with upcoming elections in Slovenia (22 March), Hungary (12 April), - [Co-creating a digital future: citizens’ voices meet policy action](https://ecas.org/event/co-creating-a-digital-future-citizens-voices/) - ECAS and Mediawijs are pleased to invite you to the event “Co-creating a Digital Future: Citizens’ Voices Meet Policy Action”, taking place on 26 February 2026 at 14:00 at BeCentral, Cantersteen 12, 1000 Brussels. Belgium is undergoing a wide-ranging digital transformation that is reshaping public services, the labour market, democratic participation, and everyday life. While - [Focus Group: Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in the Netherlands](https://ecas.org/event/focus-group-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-the-netherlands/) - In the framework of our project EURECA (European Citizenship Accelerator) Plus 2026, ECAS is organising a focus group on political participation of EU mobile citizens in the Netherlands in view of the upcoming municipal elections on 18 March 2026. The event will be held in Dutch on Tuesday, 17 February, from 10:00 and 12:00. - [Freedom of Movement Training – Portugal 2025](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-movement-training-portugal-2025/) - Having accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on - [Freedom of Movement Training – Ireland 2025](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-movement-training-ireland-2025/) - Having accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on - [Round table on the political participation of EU mobile citizens in Portugal](https://ecas.org/event/round-table-on-the-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-portugal/) - ECAS is organising a focus group on political participation of EU mobile citizens in Portugal in view of the upcoming municipal elections on October 12th 2025. The event will be held online in Portuguese on Wednesday, September 10th 2025, between 14:00 and 15:30 GMT +1. Our aim is to raise awareness of EU mobile - [ECAS Day 2025 (by invitation only)](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-day-2025/) - Opportunities to Strengthen European Rights and Democracy in the Post-Election Era: What Can Citizens and Civil Society Do? ECAS is pleased to invite you to the inaugural ECAS Day 2025, taking place on 24th June at the NH EU Berlaymont Hotel. This event will focus on opportunities to strengthen European Rights and Democracy in the - [Inclusive Just Transition Policies in Europe and Beyond](https://ecas.org/event/inclusive-just-transition-policies-in-europe-and-beyond/) - REGISTER FOR THE EVENT How can we ensure no one is left behind in the global green transition? Join us for an engaging online policy dialogue as part of the BOLSTER project - a Horizon Europe initiative that explores how marginalised communities experience and influence climate transition policies across Europe and beyond.This final Just Transition Helix - [Crowdsourcing and Policy-Making in Europe - Lunch & Learn!](https://ecas.org/event/crowdsourcing-and-policy-making-in-europe/) - Are you a crowdsourcing beginner or a confirmed expert on this digital democracy method for engaging citizens in policy-making? Unlock the power of crowdsourcing at our event and discover how to use digital tools to co-create policy recommendations with citizens! In the framework of the IDEU (Inclusive Digitalisation in the EU) Project, we are thrilled - [IDEU Launch Event: Crowdsourcing Citizens’ Perspectives on Belgium’s Digital Challenges](https://ecas.org/event/ideu-launch-event-crowdsourcing-citizens-perspectives-on-belgiums-digital-challenges/) - Are you a policy-maker, researcher, journalist, or member of Belgian civil society passionate about advocating for more digital inclusion and digital skills? Join our event and discussions around how to improve the digital transformation process in Belgium and in Europe! We are delighted to invite you to attend the Inclusive Digitalisation in the EU - [Cross-border telework training - Germany](https://ecas.org/event/cross-border-telework-training-germany/) - Described by the European Labour Authority as a “commonly increasing phenomenon”, cross-border telework gives the opportunity to EU citizens and their family members to live and work from any Member State of the EU. However, it can be sometimes difficult for employers, employees or self-employed citizens to navigate through the complexity of the immigration, - [Freedom of Movement Training – Sweden 2025](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-movement-training-sweden-2025/) - Having accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase awareness on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement EU legislation on freedom of movement, and the updates provided - [9th BOLSTER Regional Policy Dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/9th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Just Transition in Mobility and Energy Policies REGISTER FOR THE EVENT What The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the - [8th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/8th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Energy Transitions Across Multi-Scalar Governance Levels in Europe What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the support for transition plans. The project, - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2025 Conference](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2025-conference/) - Towards a Just Citizenship: Freedom of Movement and Just Transition that Work for All The State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference is ECAS’s annual flagship event in its EU Rights focus area. It aims to take stock of recent developments in the European Citizenship domain and provide a platform for civil society, decision-makers, and - [Digital Inclusion Breakfast](https://ecas.org/event/digital-inclusion-breakfast/) - How can we bridge the gap and create a truly inclusive digital future? Join us for an interactive breakfast event to: Explore our crowdsourcing campaign on digital inclusion Meet your neighbours and share your digital inclusion projects and ideas Let’s start building a community of practices on digital inclusion Network over a free breakfast with - [Майсторски клас Въздействие върху „колебаещата се“ среда и защита от негативни кампании](https://ecas.org/event/майсторски-клас-въздействие-върху-к/) - 26 февруари 2025, 9:00 – 14:00 EET Зала „Резонатор“, ул. „20-ти април“ №13, гр. София Представяне Този майсторски клас има за цел да подпомогне гражданските организации с практически съвети за изграждане на ефективни послания към ключови целеви аудитории и създаване на координиран наратив по чувствителни теми, свързани с тяхната работа. В допълнение, майсторският клас има - [2nd BOLSTER Project regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/2nd-bolster-project-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Just Transition WITH and FOR local economic actors What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalised communities are affected by European Green Deal (EGD)-related policies and to see whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the support for transition plans. The project, - [3rd BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/3rd-bolster-project-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Youth and Just Transition - between disengagement and active participation What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalised communities are affected by European Green Deal (EGD)-related policies and to see whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the support for transition plans. - [4th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/4th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Green transition and citizen participation: how to foster inclusive engagement? What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the support for transition plans. - [7th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/7th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - How can Territorial Just Transition Plans be truly inclusive towards marginalised communities? What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the support for - [ECAS’s 10th Anniversary Digital Democracy Day 2024 - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue!](https://ecas.org/event/10th-anniversary-digital-democracy-day-2024/) - REGISTER FOR THE EVENT Time: 9.30 - 13.00 CEST Venue: BIP- Rue Royale 2-4 1000 Brussels «Salle des guichets» Background: Digital Democracy Day 2024, hosted by the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), is set to mark a significant milestone, celebrating ten years of ECAS’s work on Digital Democracy and its exploration of the transformative - [6th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/6th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - The Just Transition Mechanism as a way to tackle energy poverty: Perspectives from Romania and beyond What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes - [Formation sur la libre circulation – Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/event/formation-sur-la-libre-circulation-luxembourg/) - Nous organisons une formation gratuite pour les fonctionnaires et membres de la société civile dans le but de sensibiliser les administrations locales et la société civile aux obstacles actuels à la libre circulation, en fournissant les outils nécessaires pour interpréter et mettre en œuvre la Directive 2004/38 relative au droit des citoyens de l’Union - [Training over vrijheid van verkeer van EU-burgers - Leuven](https://ecas.org/event/training-over-vrijheid-van-verkeer-van-eu-burgers-leuven/) - Wij organiseren een gratis trainingssessie met als doel lokale overheden, onder wie ambtenaren, en maatschappelijke organisaties bewuster te maken van de huidige belemmeringen voor vrij verkeer. Dit doen we door hen de benodigde tools aan te bieden om Richtlijn 2004/38 over het recht van EU-burgers en hun familieleden om vrij te reizen en te - [Formation sur la libre circulation – Belgique](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-movement-training-belgium-fr/) - Nous organisons une formation gratuite pour les fonctionnaires et membres de la société civile dans le but de sensibiliser les administrations locales et la société civile aux obstacles actuels à la libre circulation, en fournissant les outils nécessaires pour interpréter et mettre en œuvre la Directive 2004/38 relative au droit des citoyens de l’Union et - [Freedom of Movement Training – Luxembourg (in English)](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-movement-training-luxembourg-in-english/) - We are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on the right of citizens of the Union and - [Freedom of Movement Training – Belgium (in English)](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-movement-training-belgium-in-english/) - We are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on the right of citizens of the Union and - [5th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/5th-bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Beyond the mines – Leveraging culture for a just transition in former mining regions What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the - [Round table on the political participation of EU mobile citizens in Belgium](https://ecas.org/event/round-table-on-the-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-belgium/) - ECAS is organising a focus group on political participation of EU mobile citizens in Belgium in view of the upcoming municipal elections which will take place on October 13th, 2024. The event will be held in English on Friday, June 7th 2024, between 10:00 and 12:00. Our aim is to get a better understanding - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2024 Conference](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2024-conference/) - Towards a stronger democracy that leaves no one behind The State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference is ECAS’s annual flagship event in its EU Rights focus area. It aims is to take stock of recent developments in the European Citizenship domain and to provide a forum for discussion of civil society, decision-makers and - [Tackling Disinformation and Building Successful Campaigns](https://ecas.org/event/tackling-disinformation-and-building-successful-campaigns/) - Masterclass for CSOs Disinformation poses increasingly difficult challenges to European democracy and security, by targeting EU countries with a view to destabilizing and polarising their citizens. Central and Eastern Europe, and in particular Bulgaria, is especially vulnerable to disinformation narratives and with the upcoming European Parliament elections, those are expected to increase. This Masterclass which - [A digital transformation in Bulgaria that leaves no one behind](https://ecas.org/event/a-digital-transformation-in-bulgaria-that-leaves-no-one-behind/) - Регистрирай се тук What? Since 9 May 2022, the last day of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), the EU has moved forward with the adoption of several key pieces of legislation which CSOs have been closely monitoring and striving for. While the adoption of those policies has answered several - [1st BOLSTER Project regional policy dialogue](https://ecas.org/event/bolster-regional-policy-dialogue/) - Challenges and lessons learned for leaving no one behind in green transitions Perspectives from Croatia, Austria and The Netherlands What? The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalised communities are affected by European Green Deal (EGD)-related policies and to see whether involving them - [Democracy Lab 2023](https://ecas.org/event/democracy-lab/) - How to harness Smart Crowdsourcing for stronger EU policies and democracy A 1-day opportunity for EU policy-makers and civil society change-makers What? On the occasion of International Democracy Day, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), Dreamocracy and Smarter Together will present the potential of advanced forms of crowdsourcing for public administration and democracy at - [Freedom of Movement Training – Sweden](https://ecas.org/event/training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-stockholm/) - Having accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on - [Focus Group: Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/event/focus-group-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-luxembourg/) - In the framework of our project European Citizen Accelerator (EURECA) in 2023 ECAS is organising a focus group on political participation of EU mobile citizens in Luxembourg in view of the upcoming municipal elections on June 11th 2023. The event will be held in English on Wednesday, May 10th 2023, between 10:00 and 12:00. Our - [Freedom of Movement Training – Ireland](https://ecas.org/event/training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-dublin/) - Having accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on - [Freedom of Movement Training – Germany](https://ecas.org/event/training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-berlin/) - Having accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing the tools to interpret and implement Directive 2004/38 on - [Focus Group: Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in Spain](https://ecas.org/event/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-spain/) - In the framework of our project European Citizen Accelerator (EURECA) in 2023 ECAS is organising a focus group on political participation of EU mobile citizens in Spain in view of the upcoming municipal elections on May 27th 2023. The event will be held in Spanish on Thursday, March 30th 2023, between 10:00 and 12:00. Our aim is - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2023 Conference](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2023-conference/) - Shaping the Future of European Citizenship : Understanding EU Mobile Citizens' Motivations and Adapting EU Citizenship to New Realities You can follow the live broadcast of the PART 1 of the event here: You can follow the live broadcast of the PART 2 of the event here: The State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference is ECAS’s - [CSOs resilience against shrinking democratic space in CEE](https://ecas.org/event/csos-resilience-against-shrinking-democratic-space-in-cee/) - On the 2nd of March, ECAS will host its workshop, “CSOs resilience against shrinking democratic space in CEE” in the framework of the 2023 edition of the EESC Civil Society Days. Under the overarching topic “Civil Society Organisations: a pillar of democracy and a key player to overcome current challenges”, citizens, organised civil society and - [Love is in the air! Improving Air Quality in Europe through Citizen Action](https://ecas.org/event/love-is-in-the-air/) - You can follow the live broadcast of the Panel 1 of the event here: You can follow the live broadcast of the Panel 2 of the event here: According to the United Nations everyone on the planet has a right to a healthy environment, including clean air. Still, air pollution continues to - [A Digital Transformation that Leaves No one Behind – European Week of Regions and Cities](https://ecas.org/event/a-digital-transformation-that-leaves-no-one-behind-european-week-of-regions-and-cities/) - The event will focus on striving for a digital Europe that works for all, putting human rights first and allowing for a digital transformation that is shaped by the people for the people. In an effort to raise awareness and give the opportunity to local stakeholders across Europe to contribute to the discussion, ECAS is - [Digital Democracy Day 2021 | ONLINE](https://ecas.org/event/digital-democracy-day-2021-online/) - Crowdsourcing Citizens’ Proposals on Air Quality It is high time we take advantage of the availability of technological solutions to encourage democratic engagement and empower citizens to co-create policies with decision makers. Crowdsourcing is one of the participatory democracy mechanisms, which solicits and analyses “the wisdom of the crowd” by giving citizens the opportunity to - [State of the Union Citizens’ Rights 2022: Reinventing EU Citizenship post COVID-19](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2022-reinventing-eu-citizenship-post-covid-19-2/) - The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of EU citizens’ lives: the ways we travel, the ways we work, the ways we meet our family members and friends. ECAS research shows that the initial outbreak had a particularly serious impact on mobile EU citizens, as it magnified the obstacles that they have been facing in - [Unmasking Populism: Modalities, Scenarios, and Responses to a Persistent Threat](https://ecas.org/event/unmasking-populism-modalities-scenarios-and-responses-to-a-persistent-threat/) - The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on our democratic societies, posing unprecedented challenges to personal freedoms, the reliability of information and, ultimately, the ability of democratic institutions to cope with the rapidly changing societal demands. This adds up to a tumultuous decade for European democracy, that saw the rise of populism and anti-European - [Online training on the Freedom of Movement Rights](https://ecas.org/event/online-training-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights/) - ECAS will organise an online training on the Freedom of movements rights as a continuation of the previous three face-to-face training sessions we organised earlier in the year. The training will be conducted for civil servants and Civil Society Organisation in in France, Italy and Spain and is aiming to give more information regarding - [Access to justice in the EU and beyond: What role for civil society?](https://ecas.org/event/access-to-justice-in-the-eu-and-beyond-what-role-for-civil-society/) - As project leader of Triple A for Citizens funded by DG NEAR, ECAS is organising a conference in Brussels on 29 and 30 November 2016, which will be the closing event of this 4-year project. At the same time, the Conference will launch the 'Triple A for Citizens European Network', which is open to all European organisations who - [State of the Union Citizens’ Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019/) - Freedom of movement is one of the most cherished fundamental freedoms of the European Union. Together with the right to political participation they constitute the main building blocks of the EU Citizenship. At the same time, political and civic participation of mobile EU citizens in both local and European elections remains limited. To further strengthen - [Protecting Citizens’ Rights: Challenges and Opportunities for EU Passengers](https://ecas.org/event/protecting-citizens-rights-challenges-and-opportunities-for-eu-passengers/) - On September 16 the JoiEU partner in Italy, Cittadinanzattiva (Active Citizenship) is organizing a trans-border debate on the issues of mobility and passengers’ rights.Watch the video of the event - [Debate on the impact of the refugee crisis on Schengen and free movement rights in the EU](https://ecas.org/event/debate-on-the-impact-of-the-refugee-crisis-on-schengen-and-free-movement-rights-in-the-eu/) - In the heat of the refugee crisis, a cross-border citizen debate on the freedom of movement dilemma facing European citizens and EU leaders is being organised in Romania in the framework of the U-Impact project, in which ECAS is a partner.On September 18 our Romanian partner under the U-Impact project, the National Association of Citizens - [We are Europe Academy 2019](https://ecas.org/event/we-are-europe-academy-2019/) - Back for a second edition, the Union of European Federalists and the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) are holding the 2019 We are Europe Academy from September 13th - 14th in Brussels.The Academy is a training event that aims to help activists from civil society organisations develop their practical skills – particularly on Citizens Advocacy and Citizens Engagement - to better - [Online Disinformation: Finding the silver bullet in the digital world](https://ecas.org/event/online-disinformation-finding-the-silver-bullet-in-the-digital-world/) - The spread of online disinformation is a threat that can deeply affect our society by hampering the ability of citizens to make informed choices, disrupting electoral processes and breaking the integrity of our democratic institutions. Its complexity represents a challenge that needs to be tackled on multiple fronts and through a more holistic approach.On this - [Enhancing citizenship competences in the EU](https://ecas.org/event/enhancing-citizenship-competences-in-the-eu/) - Today, maybe more than ever, active citizens are needed safeguard democracies all over the European Union (EU). The significant rise of anti-democratic movements within and beyond the 27 Member States cannot be brushed aside with little concern and denial. Therefore, enhanced citizenship competences based on shared European values is much needed. It will allow citizens - [Civil Society and Philantropy](https://ecas.org/event/civil-society-and-philantropy/) - [Triple A for Citizens, Regional Conference](https://ecas.org/event/triple-a-for-citizens-regional-conference/) - [Keeping Europe Open - Social Enterprises Development](https://ecas.org/event/keeping-europe-open-social-enterprises-development/) - [Open days - Study Visit of the Croatian Municipalities](https://ecas.org/event/open-days-study-visit-of-the-croatian-municipalities/) - [Welcoming drink and launch of the website](https://ecas.org/event/welcoming-drink-and-launch-of-the-website/) - PARTICIPATION: Upon Invitation only - [Development of Social Enterprises International Debate](https://ecas.org/event/development-of-social-enterprises-international-debate/) - To follow up the Partners Albania contribution in the social enterprises development, the debate will bring together actors from institutions influencing SE development from state agencies, SE representatives, academic institutions, development agencies and donor agencies. The debate will feature best practices and challenges from European counties partners in the project from Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, - [Conference: ECI Legal Framework – Need for Reform?](https://ecas.org/event/conference-eci-legal-framework-need-for-reform/) - European Citizen Action Service in collaboration with European Economic and Social Committee is pleased to host a conference on the reform of the Legal Framework for the European Citizens’ Initiative on 10 December in EESC premises. The aim of the conference is to evaluate the Legal framework of the European Citizens’ Initiative in light of - [Policy debate: "Is the Catching up of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Member States a Mirage?"](https://ecas.org/event/policy-debate-is-the-catching-up-of-central-and-eastern-europe-cee-member-states-a-mirage/) - The European Citizen Action Service and Open Society Institute – Sofia are pleased to invite you to a policy debate “Is the Catching up of CEE Member States a Mirage?” on the 3rd of December at Sofitel Brussels Europe Hotel, from 18.30 to 20.30 followed by a cocktail and networking event.On the tenth anniversary of - [Digital Democracy in the EU: from E-participation to Co-legislating with Citizens](https://ecas.org/event/digital-democracy-in-the-eu-from-e-participation-to-co-legislating-with-citizens/) - This conference will explore the new possibilities for democracy in the digital age. Particular attention will be paid to recent experience and future potential for crowdsourcing legislation.The event will be webstreamed and recorded*. Agenda 9.00 – 9.30 Registration and welcoming coffee Shaping Policies through E-participation 9.30 – 9.45 Welcoming address by Ms Assya Kavrakova, Director, - [Roundtable on Quality Standards in Provision of Information, Advice and Legal Aid to Citizens](https://ecas.org/event/roundtable-on-quality-standards-in-provision-of-information-advice-and-legal-aid-to-citizens/) - The purpose of the roundtable is to examine different approaches to ensuring quality standards in delivering information, advice and legal aid to citizens. It is organised in the scope of the EC funded project “Triple A for citizens, access to information advice and active help” implemented in the Western Balkans and Turkey. During - [European Citizens’ Initiative Day 2015 - Review, Renew, Reset](https://ecas.org/event/european-citizens-initiative-day-2015-review-renew-reset/) - The European Economic and Social Committee in collaboration with ECAS, Democracy International, the IRI institute and other stakeholders is organising the ECI DAY 2015 Review, Renew, Reset on 13th of April 2015! Find more information and register here and follow us live! - [Launch Event: Turning Policy Initiatives into Policy Impact](https://ecas.org/event/launch-event-turning-policy-initiatives-into-policy-impact/) - From the 7th to the 9th of April 2015, ECAS will participate in the “Launch Event: Turning Policy Initiatives into Policy Impact” in Sofia (Bulgaria). This three-day event will consist of a conference on civil society policy impact in Europe and a workshop on effective international coordination of civic engagement for the partners of the - [Study Visit of Turkish CSOs](https://ecas.org/event/study-visit-of-turkish-csos/) - [SAVE THE DATE for ECAS’ New Tailor-made Training Workshops!](https://ecas.org/event/save-the-date-for-ecas-new-tailor-made-training-workshops/) - On the occasion of its upcoming 25th anniversary, ECAS is pleased to upgrade and expand the package of services it currently provides to non-profit organisations with customised training workshops on communication, advocacy and EU fundraising.Much is already on the market for businesses and corporate interests, yet ECAS has identified an increasing demand for training targeting the non-profit sector in particular, with - [Triple A Regional Conference Pristina November 26-27](https://ecas.org/event/triple-a-regional-conference-pristina-november-26-27/) - The Triple A Regional Conference and Steering Group meeting will bring together all partners in the Triple A project, in addition to the new pilot projects from Macedonia, Montenegro, and Albania, and the pilot projects from the first phase.Other actors from the region who are involved with providing advice, information, or free legal aid services - [U-Impact debate in Spain on Education for Participation](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-debate-in-spain-on-education-for-participation/) - Our partner in Spain, Fundación Ciudadanía, is organizing a public debate entitled “Cross-border initiative on EU Citizenship: Education for Participation" on the 22th of January. The debate will take place in Merida and will focus on public policies in support of citizen participation. The debate will also discuss the findings of University professors on citizen participation initiatives and - [ECI Day 2016: Forging Change](https://ecas.org/event/eci-day-2016-forging-change/) - The ECI Day is an important meeting place and platform where registered and future ECI organisers and stakeholders can exchange information and experiences and present their ECI and activities to the public. The event is jointly organised by the European Economic and Social Committe (EESC) and several partners, including ECAS, Democracy International and the Initiative and - [U-Impact Debate in Tirana: Social Enterprises in Europe](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-debate-in-tirana-social-enterprises-in-europe/) - Our partner in Albania, Partners Albania for Change and Development, is organizing a public debate on Social Enterprises on the 26th of February in Tirana (Albania).The debate will take place at the Tirana International Hotel and will focus on the approaches to and development of Social Enterprises in Albania, and compare them with current trends in other European countries and in Europe - [U-Impact Final Conference: "24 Years of EU Citizenship: What We Stand to Lose"](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-final-conference-24-years-of-eu-citizenship-what-we-stand-to-lose/) - Nearly 25 years after the concept of EU citizenship was first enshrined in the EU Maastricht Treaty, it is time for a thorough assessment of the key achievements and the pending challenges where more work remains to be done in order for citizens to fully reap the rights and privileges that come with it. In - [Youth Digital Boot Camp](https://ecas.org/event/youth-digital-boot-camp/) - In the DEEP-linking Youth Boot Camp – Hungary, young participants will learn how to create appealing digital content together with the help of the international experts. They will also be contributing to a wider debate on the Erasmus+ program and youth mobility through the production of media content.During the Boot Camp participants will also be involved in the DEEP-linking Youth Digital Competition. The - [Youth Digital Boot Camp](https://ecas.org/event/youth-digital-boot-camp-2/) - In the DEEP-linking Youth Boot Camp – Croatia, young participants will learn how to create appealing digital content together with the help of the international experts. They will also be contributing to a wider debate on the Erasmus+ program and youth mobility through the production of media content.During the Boot Camp participants will also be involved in the DEEP-linking Youth Digital Competition. The - [Digital Democracy Day 2016](https://ecas.org/event/digital-democracy-day-2016/) - Save the date for our annual Digital Democracy Day! This year’s edition will focus on e-participation and the uttermost challenging question for e-democracy: Will e-participation bring citizens back to the EU? When? Tuesday 18 October 2016, 9.00-16.00 Where? Representation of Saxony-Anhalt to the EU, Boulevard St. Michel 80, 1040, Brussels What? Panels will explore: Future E-Participation tools - [ECAS' Christmas Networking Cocktail](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-christmas-networking-cocktail/) - Every year ECAS invites its partners and members to a cocktail at its premises ahead of the Christmas break. The cocktail is a good opportunity to assess the achievements of the year and to present the new priorities and actions. SAVE-THE-DATE for our cocktail now - more information and personal invitations will be sent out later - [Take part in our European Digital Competition!](https://ecas.org/event/take-part-in-our-european-digital-competition/) - Through our DEEP-linking Youth project, we have been analysing young people’s inputs especially on youth mobility in the EU and on their experiences with EU learning mobility programmes to see how their points of view may help improve EU policies around these topics.Now we have decided to create a Digital Competition to allow young people to - [ECI Day 2017: I Participate!](https://ecas.org/event/eci-day-2017-i-participate/) - The concept of European citizenship has been evolving for 60 years, ever since the Treaty of Rome made history by introducing the right to freedom of movement for workers and services. Over the years, the idea of European citizenship and the rights associated with it have evolved considerably – more freedoms were added, as well - [Workshop: New technologies and transition: What role for civil society in a future of e-democracy?](https://ecas.org/event/workshop-new-technologies-and-transition-what-role-for-civil-society-in-a-future-of-e-democracy/) - As part of the Civil Society Days 2017: The Europe we stive for, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), ECAS is hosting a workshop which will discuss the potential of e-democracy to contribute to a more open and inclusive form of policy-making and examine the role that civil society may play within this new - [Live Chat - Youth Mobility and Erasmus+](https://ecas.org/event/live-chat-youth-mobility-and-erasmus/) - Ever had difficulties during your Erasmus? Are you happy with your EVS experience? Why is it important for you to have an experience in another EU country and how could the EU improve it?What are the challenges YOU face when travelling in Europe? Now you have the chance to ask one of the youngest MEPs - [Digital Democracy Day 2017 - Rejuvenating Europe: Opportunities in the Digital World](https://ecas.org/event/digital-democracy-day-2017-rejuvenating-europe-opportunities-in-the-digital-world/) - Our 2017 Digital Democracy Day will take place in Brussels on October 17 and will focus on young people's e-participation.In vibrant democratic societies, effective participation is about creating opportunities for citizens to be involved in shaping, influencing and contributing to policies. Although youth engagement is crucial to this process, there are often challenges in getting - [Live Chat - Erasmus+ and Youth Mobility](https://ecas.org/event/live-chat-erasmus-and-youth-mobility/) - Ever had difficulties during your Erasmus? Are you happy with your EVS experience? Why is it important for you to have an experience in another EU country and how could the EU improve it?What are the challenges YOU face when travelling in Europe? Now you have the chance to ask an Officer of the European - [Digital Democracy Day 2018 - Crowdsourcing EU legislation: Taking Decisions With Citizens and Not For Them!](https://ecas.org/event/digital-democracy-day-2018-crowdsourcing-eu-legislation-taking-decisions-with-citizens-and-not-for-them/) - Our 2018 Digital Democracy Day will take place in Brussels on February 27 and will focus on crowdsourcing practices.Many local and national governments worldwide are using crowdsourcing methods to enable people to participate in policy debates in a constructive way and to learn from each other throughout the deliberation process (“wisdom of the crowd” principle). - [ECI DAY 2018: ECAS Workshop on the ECI Online Collaborative Platform](https://ecas.org/event/eci-day-2018-ecas-workshop-on-the-eci-online-collaborative-platform/) - The ECI is now going through a dynamic period of being redefined and reshaped, and it faces a lot of changes soon to be discussed between the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The theme of ECI Day 2018: Working Together, is intended to underline the value of cooperation and the shared responsibility for promoting active - [Civil Society Days 2018 - The Digital Democracy Battle: Defend your tool to improve Civil Participation!](https://ecas.org/event/civil-society-days-2018-the-digital-democracy-battle-defend-your-tool-to-improve-civil-participation/) - As part of the Civil Society Days 2018: Citizenship, Democracy and Culture in Digitalised Europe organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), ECAS and Volonteurope are helding the workshop The Digital Democracy Battle: Defend your tool to improve Civic Participation, which will discuss the role of e-democracy in creating an inclusive form of policy-making. More concretely, the workshop - [Advocate Europe Idea Challenge Camp in Kiev](https://ecas.org/event/advocate-europe-idea-challenge-camp-in-kiev/) - Citizens' Call For Transparent Trilogues makes Challenge Camp Shortlist! We are proud to announce that out of 472 proposals, ECAS' project idea entitled Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let's Build a More Democratic EU! has made it to the shortlist, and will be attending the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp! ECAS and 30 other shortlisted candidates - [European Civic Days: Citizenship – Participation – Policies: Building Europe From Grassroots Up](https://ecas.org/event/european-civic-days-citizenship-participation-policies-building-europe-from-grassroots-up/) - From 29 - 30 May the Citizen Participation Forum will hold the annual European Civic Days conference, entitled 'Citizenship - Participation - Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!'. The event will be will be held under the patronage of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and it will be hosted by ECAS, - [ECI Forum Webinar - ECI: procedural steps, and how to draft an initiative](https://ecas.org/event/eci-forum-webinar-eci-procedural-steps-and-how-to-draft-an-initiative/) - The ECI Forum is hosting the following webinar: 'ECI - procedural steps and how to draft an initiative' at 12:30pm on 14 June.Expertise on the subject and training will be provided by Digital Democracy Manager Elisa Lironi, and Andre Ménache from the Stop Vivisection initiative. Register here More information on the ECI Forum here - [Post-Brexit Europe: What's Next for Youth Mobility](https://ecas.org/event/post-brexit-europe-whats-next-for-youth-mobility/) - Negotiations on the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union end in less than a year. How will this affect young people and youth mobility? What will be the impact for people with fewer opportunities? It is not too late to register for the conference Post-Brexit Europe: What's Next for Youth Mobility, hosted by - [European Democracy Network Meeting – E-participation: the Key to More Inclusive Democracies?](https://ecas.org/event/european-democracy-network-meeting-e-participation-the-key-to-more-inclusive-democracies/) - How can we use ICTs and e-participation to promote and improve democracy? This meeting will explore the concepts of e-democracy and e-participation, by looking at how e-participation can improve democracy looking at issues of quality, corruption and inclusiveness. The speakers will also address how e-participation affects the quality of democracy at a transnational and European - [ECI Forum Webinar: How to look for partners](https://ecas.org/event/eci-forum-webinar-how-to-look-for-partners/) - The ECI Forum is hosting the second of a series of webinars on 13 September 2018.The webinar will focus on how to look for partners while in the process of campaigning for a successful European Citizens' Initiative. The webinar will address the challenge of building a strong coalition of partners by providing sources that organisers - [Seminar on Expanding Civic Space in the Danube Region](https://ecas.org/event/seminar-on-expanding-civic-space-in-the-danube-region/) - The event is organised by the Citizen Participation Forum, Bulgaria, the Danube Civil Society Forum, and Foster Europe Foundation, with the support of CEI. The seminar is held in coordination with the 5th Danube Participation Day in Sofia. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss in three workshops current challenges to civil society deriving from the phenomenon of shrinking - [ECI Forum Webinar: How To Collect Statements of Support](https://ecas.org/event/eci-forum-webinar-how-to-collect-statements-of-support/) - The ECI Forum is hosting the fourth of a series of webinars on 22 October 2018. The webinar will focus on how to collect statements of support (signatures) for a successful European Citizens’ Initiative. The webinar will provide practical guidance and address the challenges of often the hardest step of the European Citizens' Initiative. Elisa Lironi, ECAS’ Digital Democracy Manager, - [#EUTakeTheInitiative | Join us in Vienna, Austria on 13 December 2018 for a full-day conference on the ECI and its reform](https://ecas.org/event/eutaketheinitiative-join-us-in-vienna-austria-on-13-december-2018-for-a-full-day-conference-on-the-eci-and-its-reform/) - 2018’s last stop! #EUTakeTheInitiative is taking off to Vienna for its final event of the year! Join us on 13 December for a full-day conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform. ECAS’ Digital Democracy Manager Elisa Lironi and Digital Democracy Coordinator Flavio Grazian will be leading one of the afternoon sessions, entitled ‘How to draft an initiative’. - [Digital Democracy Day 2019 - Harnessing the Potential of Technology in Elections](https://ecas.org/event/digital-democracy-day-2019-harnessing-the-potential-of-technology-in-elections/) - Our 2019 Digital Democracy Day will take place in Brussels on March 07 and will focus on the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to engage citizens in elections, with a particular focus on the 2019 European Parliament elections.Many organisations, whether institutional or from the civil society, have been developing e-voting practices, online platforms - [Webinar on Campaigning and Fundraising for a European Citizen Initiative](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-on-campaigning-and-fundraising-for-a-european-citizen-initiative/) - The webinar will focus on practical guidance to Campaigning and Fundraising for a European Citizens' Initiative. It will explain the process and address the challenges of two of the most important steps for the success of a European Citizens' Initiative. Elisa Lironi, ECAS' Senior Manager European Democracy, and Daniel Schily, co-founder of Democracy International, will - [Webinar on Legal advice when drafting a European Citizens’ Initiative](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-on-legal-advice-when-drafting-a-european-citizens-initiative/) - After a successful start of the webinar series aimed at providing advice before, during and after the process of launching a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), we are excited to announce that the registration for the second 2019 webinar is now opened! Join Flavio Grazian, ECAS European Democracy Coordinator, and Victoria Canu, Associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, - [Civil Society Days 2019](https://ecas.org/event/civil-society-days-2019/) - The Civil Society Days 2019 will take place at a crucial moment for Europe, namely after the Sibiu Summit and the European elections and ahead of the constitution of the new European Parliament and European Commission.Current pressures on our democratic systems are threatening fundamental values (respect for human rights, individual liberty, equality, the rule of - [Webinar: New Rules for the European Citizens’ Initiative as of 2020](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-new-rules-for-the-european-citizens-initiative-as-of-2020/) - The webinar is the third webinar hosted on the European Citizens' Initiative Forum in 2019. The webinar will focus on the key changes introduced by the new ECI regulation and it will explain the new rules and improvements for the European Citizens' Initiative as of 2020. Elisa Lironi, ECAS' Senior Manager European Democracy, and Olga Kurpisz, - [European Citizens' Initiative Forum Webinar on collecting signatures](https://ecas.org/event/european-citizens-initiative-forum-webinar-on-collecting-signatures/) - Date: Tuesday 30 March, 12:30 – 13:45 CET Moderator: Flavio Grazian, Participatory Democracy Manger, ECAS Speakers: - Ella Jakubowska, European Citizens' Initiative Organiser, Civil society initiative for a ban on biometric mass surveillance practices - Julie Steendam, European Citizens' Initiative Organiser, Right to Cure - Daniela Vancic, European Program Manager, Democracy International Platform: WebEx Language: English The webinar will focus on practical guidance - [ECI Forum Webinar 'The ECI step by step’](https://ecas.org/event/eci-forum-webinar-the-eci-step-by-step/) - 18 May 2021, 12:30 – 13:45 CET Speakers - Olga Kurpisz, Policy Officer - European Citizens' Initiative, European Commission - Olga Kikou, Head of EU Office, Compassion in World Farming - Hendrik Nahr, European Democracy Outreach Coordinator, ECAS Language: EN Webinar Outline The webinar will focus on practical guidance on the different procedural steps of a European citizens’ initiative. - [Launch event: "Civil Society Hub for actors addressing populist movements"](https://ecas.org/event/launch-event-civil-society-hub-for-actors-addressing-populist-movements/) - European democracies have come under increasing pressure by populist actors over the last decade. Divisive politics have put into question the very foundations of liberal societies: plurality, equality, informed public discussions and the rule of law. In 2020 ECAS carried out a research on civic strategies addressing populist movements: “Civic Strategies Addressing Populism – Initiatives - [DEMOS-BRU Citizens' Panel | closed event](https://ecas.org/event/demos-bru-citizens-panel-closed-event/) - On 11 December, we organise a citizen panel in the scope of the DEMOS H2020 project.The Brussels edition is complemented by a similar event (following the same methodology) in Budapest: randomly selected citizens will get together and will deliberate on the subjects of democracy, citizen engagement and the EU contribution to their everyday lives. Given that - [Essential Skills for European Citizens' Initiative Organisers (Online Course)](https://ecas.org/event/essential-skills-for-european-citizens-initiative-organisers-online-course/) - The Online Course on Essential Skills for European Citizens’ Initiative organisers provides users with an opportunity to learn about the process and practice of developing successful European citizens’ initiatives in an interactive online environment, under the guidance of established experts in the respective practical field serving as course tutors. The online course focuses on practical - [There's something in the air [EN]](https://ecas.org/event/theres-something-in-the-air-en/) - Hey, citizens of Brussels! You are invited to join the “There’s something in the Air” workshop on 27 April at 19.00h in BeCentral (Cantersteen 10)! As part of the Brussels for Clean Air campaign, JEF Brussels and the European Citizens Action Service are organising this participative democracy event. It is the occasion not only to - [DEMOS-BRU Citizens' Panel | closed event](https://ecas.org/event/demos-bru-citizens-panel-closed-event-2/) - On 11 December, we organise a citizen panel in the scope of the DEMOS H2020 project.The Brussels edition is complemented by a similar event (following the same methodology) in Budapest: randomly selected citizens will get together and will deliberate on the subjects of democracy, citizen engagement and the EU contribution to their everyday lives. Given that - [Essential Skills for European Citizens' Initiative Organisers (Online Course)](https://ecas.org/event/essential-skills-for-european-citizens-initiative-organisers-online-course-2/) - The Online Course on Essential Skills for European Citizens’ Initiative organisers provides users with an opportunity to learn about the process and practice of developing successful European citizens’ initiatives in an interactive online environment, under the guidance of established experts in the respective practical field serving as course tutors. The online course focuses on practical - [There's something in the air [EN]](https://ecas.org/event/theres-something-in-the-air-en-2/) - Hey, citizens of Brussels! You are invited to join the “There’s something in the Air” workshop on 27 April at 19.00h in BeCentral (Cantersteen 10)! As part of the Brussels for Clean Air campaign, JEF Brussels and the European Citizens Action Service are organising this participative democracy event. It is the occasion not only to - [There's something in the Air [FR]](https://ecas.org/event/theres-something-in-the-air-fr/) - Bonjour, citoyens de Bruxelles ! Vous êtes invités à participer à l'atelier "There's something in the Air" le 27 avril à 19h00 à BeCentral (Cantersteen 10) ! Dans le cadre de la campagne "Bruxelles pour un air pur", la JEF Bruxelles et le European Citizens Action Service organisent cet événement de démocratie participative. C'est - [Collaborating Against Disinformation](https://ecas.org/event/collaborating-against-disinformation/) - Disinformation is the collective effort of many actors, so no single entity can tackle it by itself. We will present multi-stakeholder approaches to countering disinformation narratives in the EU. The panel discussion will be separated it two parts. Part 1 - Small actors - Big impact? Crises and challenges have shown us that SMEs are - [Digitalisation: who are Europe’s frontrunners?](https://ecas.org/event/digitalisation-who-are-europes-frontrunners/) - Digitalisation of public administration is the norm today. So what is the next frontier in e-government and what can Belgium and the EU learn from Europe’s frontrunners? Elisa Lironi will showcase the results of ECAS’ Digital Transformation Co-Creation events in Ireland, Portugal, Latvia and Luxembourg. How to achieve digital inclusiveness in Europe? Speaker during the - [Imagining the worst to prepare for the EP Elections 2024: What are citizens’ nightmares in the EU?](https://ecas.org/event/imagining-the-worst-to-prepare-for-the-ep-elections-2024-what-are-citizens-nightmares-in-the-eu/) - By understanding people’s fears for Europe and what they see as possible future challenges, we can start thinking about how to prevent them and find solutions. But what are citizens’ EU election nightmares and how to stop them from taking life. Speakers during the event will be Elisa Lironi (ECAS) and Stella Schaller (Reinventing Society) - [Ensuring a Digital Transformation that leaves No one Behind - Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/event/ensuring-a-digital-transformation-that-leaves-no-one-behind-luxemburg/) - “Ensuring a Digital Transformation that leaves no one behind” is a training & policy co-creation event that brings updates on Digital transformation EU legislation to the local stakeholders. The event is intended for Civil Society Professionals, Municipality stakeholders, Digital Transformation experts and citizens. The focus of the event is on five key areas: Digital Democracy, Digital - [BOLSTER kick-off meeting](https://ecas.org/event/bolster-kick-off-meeting/) - We are excited to begin working on our new project BOLSTER – funded by the European Union. BOLSTER will deliver new scientific evidence on decarbonisation transition strategies and how they intersect with various dimensions of inequality, such as gender, race, age and class. It will conceptualise the principle of leaving no one behind by developing - [Ensuring a Digital Transformation that Leaves No one Behind – Latvia](https://ecas.org/event/ensuring-a-digital-transformation-that-leaves-no-one-behind-latvia/) - “Ensuring a Digital Transformation that leaves no one behind” is a training & policy co-creation event that brings updates on Digital Transformation EU legislation to the local stakeholders. The event is intended for Civil Society Professionals, Municipality stakeholders, Digital Transformation experts and citizens. The focus of the event is on five key areas: Digital Democracy, Digital - [ECI Forum Webinar](https://ecas.org/event/eci-forum-webinar/) - Join us on Wednesday, 19 October at 12:30 CET as ECI experts Elisa Lironi and Daniela Vancic, who have been supporting ECI organisers since 2015, present the skills that make a good ECI organiser great. This webinar builds on the ECI Forum's online course 'Essential Skills for European Citizens' Initiative Organisers'. To register, please send - [Your Europe Advice Training Seminar](https://ecas.org/event/your-europe-advice-training-seminar-2/) - Your Europe Advice is an online EU advice service provided by legal experts from ECAS operating under contract with the European Commission. It consists of a team of about 60 lawyers who cover all 24 official EU languages and are familiar both with EU law and national laws in all EU countries. Your Europe Advice - [Youth and Civic Technology workshop at the Public Participation and Deliberative Democracy Festival](https://ecas.org/event/youth-and-civic-technology-workshop-at-the-public-participation-and-deliberative-democracy-festival/) - Youth and Civic Technology workshop at the Public Participation and Deliberative Democracy FestivalPast, Present and Future of Digital Participation: Are we heading towards a Metaverse for Democracy? This workshop will be addressing the past, present and future potential and challenges of using civic tech platforms for democracy, especially when policy-makers want to use them to - [Capacity Building Programme on the Freedom of Movement Rights - Italy](https://ecas.org/event/capacity-building-programme-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-italy/) - Capacity Building Programme on the Freedom of Movement Rights - ItalyHaving accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing - [Capacity Building Programme on the Freedom of Movement Rights - France](https://ecas.org/event/capacity-building-programme-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-france/) - Capacity Building Programme on the Freedom of Movement Rights - FranceHaving accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing - [Capacity Building Programme on the Freedom of Movement Rights - Spain](https://ecas.org/event/capacity-building-programme-on-the-freedom-of-movement-rights-spain/) - Capacity Building Programme on the Freedom of Movement Rights - SpainHaving accumulated a valuable expertise in the field, we are hosting a free of charge training for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations with the goal to increase the awareness of local administrations and civil society on current obstacles to freedom of movement, by providing - [Ensuring a Digital Transformation that leaves No one Behind - Estonia](https://ecas.org/event/ensuring-a-digital-transformation-that-leaves-no-one-behind-estonia/) - “Ensuring a Digital Transformation that leaves no one behind” is a training & policy co-creation event that brings updates on Digital Transformation EU legislation to the local stakeholders. The event is intended for Civil Society Professionals, Municipality stakeholders, Digital Transformation experts and citizens.The focus of the event is on five key areas: Digital Democracy, Digital Economy, - [Youth participation and active citizenship: can civic tech truly enhance our democracy?](https://ecas.org/event/youth-participation-and-active-citizenship-can-civic-tech-truly-enhance-our-democracy/) - Youth participation and active citizenship: can civic tech truly enhance our democracy?The NEXUS event in Brussels will be an occasion to present the work conducted within the NEXUS project and discuss its results. This stakeholder event will discuss and debate the results of the NEXUS project. Between 2019 and 2022, NEXUS explored the relationship between digitally enabled participatory - [PopAI Policy Lab in Germany](https://ecas.org/event/popai-policy-lab-in-germany/) - PopAI Policy Lab in GermanyFor the second time since the start of the popAI project, stakeholders from the NGO sector, political makers, Academics, Law enforcement Authorities and Tech designers will gather to discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)I tools in policing, and brainstorm around best practices and recommendations. While the first Policy Lab which - [Focus Group: Political participation of EU mobile citizens in Czech Republic](https://ecas.org/event/focus-group-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-czech-republic/) - Focus Group: Political participation of EU mobile citizens in Czech RepublicOn September 16th, ECAS will organise an online focus group in Czech Republic with representatives of NGOs, political parties, public administrations and mobile EU citizens to reflect on EU mobile citizens’ participation to both the local and the EU elections, in light of the upcoming - [ECI Day 2021](https://ecas.org/event/eci-day-2021/) - The 10th edition of the ECI Day exceptionally took place online and over two days. On 3 and 4 June 2021, ECAS actively participated in the 2021 ECI Day organised by the European Economic and Social Committee. ECAS organised three sessions and moderated an additional one. These sessions included: ‘How to raise funds for a European citizens' - [State of the Union Citizens’ Rights 2022: Reinventing EU Citizenship post COVID-19](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2022-reinventing-eu-citizenship-post-covid-19/) - The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of EU citizens’ lives: the ways we travel, the ways we work, the ways we meet our family members and friends. ECAS research shows that the initial outbreak had a particularly serious impact on mobile EU citizens, as it magnified the obstacles that they have been facing in - [ECI Day 2021](https://ecas.org/event/eci-day-2021-2/) - The 10th edition of the ECI Day exceptionally took place online and over two days. On 3 and 4 June 2021, ECAS actively participated in the 2021 ECI Day organised by the European Economic and Social Committee. ECAS organised three sessions and moderated an additional one. These sessions included: ‘How to raise funds for a European citizens' - [The Future of Digital Transformation in Europe](https://ecas.org/event/the-future-of-digital-transformation-in-europe/) - How do we want digital transformation to look like in Europe? This question comes with implications in many different sectors and it is crucial to find answers that include all level and areas of society. Therefore, the event “The Future of Digital Transformation in Europe” will discuss with relevant stakeholders the status quo of digital - [Webinar: 'The European Citizens’ Initiative and how to collect signatures'](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-the-european-citizens-initiative-and-how-to-collect-signatures/) - The webinar will provide a general introduction to the European Citizens’ Initiative – with a special focus on the process of collecting statements of support. It will allow participants to learn more about the European Citizens’ Initiative as a tool to impact European public policy making. The speakers will cover the initiative’s nature, procedure, and - [The Impact of Populism on European Institutions and Civil Society](https://ecas.org/event/the-impact-of-populism-on-european-institutions-and-civil-society/) - The high-level online conference on populism in Europe is organized based on the findings of the newly published book “The Impact of Populism on European Institutions and Civil Society: discourses, practices and policies''. It will focus on the following questions: How is the growing pressure of populist narratives shaping the EU institutions? How do the discourses - [Advancing Citizen-driven Participation through Digital Tools](https://ecas.org/event/advancing-citizen-driven-participation-through-digital-tools/) - Citizen-driven participation through digital tools has different shapes and forms. This conference will contribute to a better understanding on the benefits of broader citizen-driven participation and will promote a more profound acceptance of applying digital tools for civic participation among decision-makers and the society at large.The goal is to assess the state of play of - [Civil Society Days 2021](https://ecas.org/event/civil-society-days-2021/) - Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has proved to be an endurance test for human and social rights, democratic values, the rule of law and economic resilience in the EU. While navigating stormy waters, organised civil society is playing a key role in coping with the countless pandemic-related challenges at European, national, regional and - [#EURegionsWeek workshop: My citizen's voice in the EU!](https://ecas.org/event/euregionsweek-workshop-my-citizens-voice-in-the-eu/) - Have a say on what the European Union can do for your region! The European Citizens’ Initiative gives EU citizens the unique opportunity to shape the legislative agenda of the EU. Join us for an interactive workshop to share your ideas about the role of regions in making participatory democracy work in the EU and - [European Citizens' Initiative Week](https://ecas.org/event/european-citizens-initiative-week/) - In January 2020, the new rules on the European citizens’ initiative started to apply, making it easier for EU citizens to call upon the European Commission to propose legislation in areas that matter to them and where the Union has the power to act.Since the beginning of the year, the Commission has received two initiatives - [Tuesday Conversations](https://ecas.org/event/tuesday-conversations/) - Have you ever had a 'Eureka' moment about Europe? Share it during New Europeans #TuesdayConversation with ECAS Citizens' Rights Training Coordinator, Petar Markovic! Date: December 1st, 2020 Time: 21:00 Details and registration: please click here. "Conversations between Europeans that are informative, inspiring & maybe even entertaining..." - [European Public Communication Conference (EuroPCom)](https://ecas.org/event/european-public-communication-conference-europcom/) - EuroPCom 2020 – Time for Communica[c]tion is the premier conference and networking event for professional communicators working in the public sector in Europe. Join the event and have the opportunity to engage with the estimated 1,500 participants who will attend! Usually held as a physical event, this year's main EuroPCom event will be completely online on 7-8 December 2020. - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2021: Moving Together Beyond the Pandemic](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2021-moving-together-beyond-the-pandemic/) - The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the EU and all EU citizens. The measures introduced by the Member States – lockdowns, quarantines and curfews – have had an unprecedented effect on freedom of movement in the EU.Mobile EU citizens have been particularly affected, often unable to return home and - [eDemocracy Workshop: Harnessing digital tools for public action: Informal citizen participation at national level](https://ecas.org/event/edemocracy-workshop-harnessing-digital-tools-for-public-action-informal-citizen-participation-at-national-level/) - Grass-roots citizen participation at national level targets national legislative and policy-execution process. The subject of those acts is either a particular social or economic group, or the society at large. A greater state openness, transparency, and accountability could ultimately improve the quality of policy-making due to the enhanced citizen scrutiny, in the best case – - [Webinar: Support tools for organisers of a European Citizens’ Initiative](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-support-tools-for-organisers-of-a-european-citizens-initiative/) - Setting up a European Citizens’ Initiative might seem challenging at first. However, organisers have online tools and platforms at hand that provide help and facilitate their journey. To better familiarise EU citizens with the available support, the European Citizens' Initiative Forum is organising an informative webinar on September 15.The webinar will simulate a user’s journey of initiating - [#EURegionsWeek ECAS Workshop: @HOME (Hosts Open for Mobile European Citizens)](https://ecas.org/event/euregionsweek-ecas-workshop-home-hosts-open-for-mobile-european-citizens/) - @HOME: Hosts Open to Mobile Europeans - the motto of our #EURegionsWeek workshop and of the first edition of the ECAS Awards for the most EU mobile citizen-friendly location - the first of its kind in Europe!In this online workshop, taking place on October 8th, we will: REFLECT - collectively reflect on the effects of - [#EURegionsWeek workshop: No lockdown for e-democracy](https://ecas.org/event/euregionsweek-workshop-no-lockdown-for-e-democracy/) - A new push for European democracy is a priority of the Commission. The fight against COVID-19 has led to many special measures. These can have an impact on normal democratic processes and democratic debate. E-democracy could help address some of these impacts, as well as generally supporting participation and open debate. This session aims to - [eDemocracy Workshop: Harnessing digital tools for public action: Informal citizen participation at local level](https://ecas.org/event/edemocracy-workshop-harnessing-digital-tools-for-public-action-informal-citizen-participation-at-local-level/) - Citizen participation initiatives at local level are popular, as citizens can directly relate to the subject of decision-making. Often, those initiatives have a strong engagement rate due to the community / group mindset and the ability to mobilise on a concrete issue of personal and community interest. Compared with national initiatives, local initiatives can cover - [Webinar: Legal advice on drafting a European Citizens’ Initiative](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-legal-advice-on-drafting-a-european-citizens-initiative/) - Are you considering starting a European Citizens’ Initiative? Or are you already in the process of preparing your initiative?Then the webinar 'Legal advice on drafting a European Citizens' Initiative' is for you. Taking place on May 28th, it will focus on the legal requirements related to the European Citizens’ Initiative and offer you practical advice - [Webinar: Campaigning online for your European citizens’ initiative](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-campaigning-online-for-your-european-citizens-initiative/) - The evolving Covid-19 circumstances have made being able to run effective online campaigns all the more important. To support European Citizens' Initiative organisers in doing so, on June 16th we are holding a webinar on the topic, offering practical guidance, advice and proven successful methods.Communications and campaigning experts will share their expertise on the subject - [Webinar on Effective Online Campaigning](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-on-effective-online-campaigning/) - Social media platforms and other digital tools have made it possible for anyone to run an online campaign, but what makes one stand out? The answer is in the small details which in the end, can have the biggest impact on the success of a campaign.For organisers of European Citizens' Initiatives, the level of online - [Webinar: Legal advice on drafting a European Citizens’ Initiative](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-legal-advice-on-drafting-a-european-citizens-initiative-2/) - The European Citizens' Initiative is an important tool of participatory democracy, but launching one can often seem challenging. The process requires knowledge on various topics, ranging from legal aspects to campaigning strategies and network building.This is why there is the European Citizens' Initiative Forum, to support organisers before, during and after launching an initiative. Within - [eDemocracy Workshop: The role of the digital citizen in the 21st century democracy](https://ecas.org/event/edemocracy-workshop-the-role-of-the-digital-citizen-in-the-21st-century-democracy/) - The information and communication technologies (ICTs) have touched upon practically every sphere of public life. On a daily basis, people are a part of complex, inclusive communication and decision-making processes related to both their personal and professional lives. The process of public governance and democracy-making, however, has been barely touched by this trend and is - [Jubel European Democracy Festival](https://ecas.org/event/jubel-european-democracy-festival/) - “Revitalize, re-think and re-design the European participatory democracy. To make it stronger and fit to handle the world challenges of tomorrow.“ On September 6-7 2019, take part in something unique, constructive and innovative - the Jubel European Democracy Festival 2019! Through workshops, discussions, debate games and more, the festival is looking to identify alternative methodologies - [ECAS Christmas Dinner (by invitation only)](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-christmas-dinner-by-invitation-only/) - With the year coming to a close, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is bringing together its team, Board of Directors and representatives of the main stakeholders it works with (DG GROW, DG JUST, Secretariat-General, the European Parliament and the EESC) for a Christmas dinner on December 12th. As traditionally this is a time to - [European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) Day 2020](https://ecas.org/event/european-citizens-initiative-eci-day-2020/) - At the beginning of the New Year, the European Citizens' Initiative took a new turn, proposing a simplified procedure and greater support for the organisers. The 2020 (ninth) ECI Day will be marked by a major development: the entry into force of the new regulation, which makes substantial improvements and changes to the instrument. Moreover, - [European Citizens’ Initiative 2.0: Design, Engage, Impact](https://ecas.org/event/european-citizens-initiative-2-0-design-engage-impact/) - In the beginning of 2020, the new Regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative started to apply, bringing substantial changes to this important participative democracy instrument. A special Conference on March 6, organised by the European Commission (EC) and with ECAS participation, will mark its revampment and will further raise awareness on its possibilities:Design, Engage, Impact: The - [ECI DAY 2019: DIGITAL VOICES](https://ecas.org/event/eci-day-2019-digital-voices/) - This year the ECI Day will witness a new stage in the development of the European Citizens' Initiative.Two years after Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans announced the start of the revision process at the opening of ECI Day 2017, we will now be looking at the final text of the newly negotiated agreement on the - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2019: The Post-Election EU Citizenship Agenda](https://ecas.org/event/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2019-the-post-election-eu-citizenship-agenda/) - Brexit, the rise of populism and the challenges of online disinformation have all tugged at different citizens' rights, including those at the core of a European citizenship. Being a key election year, it is important to have a say on the course that the EU is set to take from here on out and on - [Webinar on helping EU mobile citizens exercise their political rights](https://ecas.org/event/webinar-on-helping-eu-mobile-citizens-exercise-their-political-rights/) - More than a third of Brussels' inhabitants are foreigners with voting rights in their local elections. But despite many of them working within the EU institutions at the heart of the Continent's democracy, Belgium has close to the lowest voter participation rate among EU citizens in Europe.Why? Which barriers do EU mobile citizens face to - [Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights Workshop](https://ecas.org/event/fostering-awareness-inclusion-and-recognition-of-eu-mobile-citizens-political-rights-workshop/) - The right to free movement is one of the most cherished rights of EU citizens. Together with the right to political participation they constitute the main building blocks of EU citizenship.In 2017, the European Union counted more than 16 million EU citizens who moved to another Member State to seek work, study or retire. Those - [ECAS Christmas Cocktail 2018](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-christmas-cocktail-2018/) - 2019 will mark 50 years since UK and EU negotiations started. At our annual Christmas Cocktail this year we wish to reflect on how it all began and what future plans are, in conversation with MEP Jean Lambert and ECAS Board Member Malachy Vallely. This event is upon invitation only. - [We are Europe Academy 2018 Edition](https://ecas.org/event/we-are-europe-academy-2018-edition/) - The Union of European Federalists and the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) are jointly holding the 2019 We are Europe Academy for a capacity building training taking place from November 9th to 11th in Brussels. Interested in reinforcing your skills in political communication, advocacy, making your organisation stronger and more visible to stakeholders or enhance your policy strategy before - [Your Europe Advice Chat with experts on EU passenger rights](https://ecas.org/event/your-europe-advice-chat-with-experts-on-eu-passenger-rights/) - Cancelled flight? Delayed train? Lost luggage? Whatever the mode of transport, things can go wrong when travelling, but depending on the situation, you may be entitled to a refund, compensation and assistance. Ask the Your Europe Advice team of experts for advice on your EU rights when travelling by air, rail, bus or ship. Post - [ECAS Training Workshop - Countering Online Disinformation in Political Campaigns](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-training-workshop-countering-online-disinformation-in-political-campaigns/) - The increased volume of online disinformation is a cause of growing concern for its effects on public debate and political campaigns.This course will reveal and explain the specific aspects of the phenomenon and equip participants with the tools to limit the damages of its exposure. The course will include a presentation of the new digital - [ECAS Training Workshop - EU Project Writing](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-training-workshop-eu-project-writing/) - EU project writing is a skill. It requires both certain knowledge and capabilities. This course will build your capacities in this respect by walking you through all the EU project writing steps and by enabling you to test your knowledge through a practical exercise. More information here Register here - [ECAS Training Workshop - Post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework: Policy, Framework and Funding Programmes](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-training-workshop-post-2020-multiannual-financial-framework-policy-framework-and-funding-programmes/) - The new Multiannual Financial Framework will define the EU’s spending priorities, policy goals and funding programmes for the next budgetary cycle from 2021-27. This training will present everything that’s already known about the new policy priorities and funding programmes, as well as advocacy opportunities and Member State positions. Find more information here Register here - [ECAS Training Workshop - EU Advocacy: Shaping the Agenda at EU Level](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-training-workshop-eu-advocacy-shaping-the-agenda-at-eu-level/) - Advocacy is an invaluable tool for influencing policy and policymakers and making a difference where it matters most. Our Advocacy training focuses on the EU level. It aims to provide the essential tools for building an advocacy strategy, developing alliances and making a difference on the policy issues that matter to you. Find more information - [ECAS Training Workshop - EU Project Cycle Management](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-training-workshop-eu-project-cycle-management/) - Both the initiation and the implementation of EU funded projects have their specificities. Knowing them is a prerequisite for a higher success rate. This course will reveal those specificities to you, provide you with tips and examples and enable you to test your knowledge through a practical exercise. Find more information here Register here - [ECAS Training Workshop - EU Funding: Policies and Programmes](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-training-workshop-eu-funding-policies-and-programmes/) - EU funding programmes are diverse and numerous, covering many different policy areas, activities and geographic locations. This course will give a comprehensive overview of EU funding for the non-profit sector, from the policy basis and funding programmes to identifying funding opportunities. Find more information here Register here - [Demcon 2018](https://ecas.org/event/demcon-2018/) - The Democracy Convention – or DemCon – is an annual gathering of academics, NGOs, activists, journalists and technologists who understand that we are on the cusp of major changes in how democracy is exercised around the world. DemCon seeks to create the conditions for building a real, immediate, non-intermediate democracy with regular and deep citizen - [Workshop - 'Got the Money, Now What? - Learn How to Manage a European Project Effectively'](https://ecas.org/event/workshop-got-the-money-now-what-learn-how-to-manage-a-european-project-effectively/) - Need the skills and competences to successfully plan, lead and manage European projects? Our European Project Management workshop will give you the essential tools to enhance all aspects of your project management capabilities to deliver projects on time, within budget and achieving your goals. Agenda: 9.30-9.50: Who are we? 9.50-11.30: The 5 phases of the - [Workshop - 'Tips and Tricks for Effectively Advocating and Shaping the Agenda at EU Level'](https://ecas.org/event/workshop-tips-and-tricks-for-effectively-advocating-and-shaping-the-agenda-at-eu-level/) - Need to influence policy and shape the agenda at EU level? Our EU Advocacy workshop will give you the essential tools to build an advocacy strategy, develop alliances and make a difference in European affairs.This workshop will include: - What is advocacy and why it matters - Developing an advocacy strategy - Crafting a message - [Workshop - ‘The Ins and Outs of EU Funding: Understanding the Process and Increasing Your Chances of Success’](https://ecas.org/event/workshop-the-ins-and-outs-of-eu-funding-understanding-the-process-and-increasing-your-chances-of-success/) - Need to get started with EU funding or improve your skills and capacities for fundraising at EU level? Our EU Funding workshop will provide you with the knowledge and insight to gain a comprehensive understanding of EU funding programmes and policy, and the tools necessary to formulate an effective strategy for fundraising success. This workshop - [Your Europe Advice Chat on doing business in another EU country](https://ecas.org/event/your-europe-advice-chat-on-doing-business-in-another-eu-country/) - Are you looking for new challenges in the world of business?Do you want to set up a company in another EU country? Are you thinking of expanding your business abroad? On Monday 26 February Your Europe Advice legal experts will answer all your questions on how to set up a business in the EU, how - [ECAS Christmas Networking Cocktail](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-christmas-networking-cocktail-2/) - On December 5, ECAS will be hosting its annual Christmas Cocktail with its partners and members. The cocktail is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the year and look forward to the new priorities and actions for the future. Attendance of this event is by invitation only. - [ACT for Free Movement Activist Training - Madrid](https://ecas.org/event/act-for-free-movement-activist-training-madrid/) - On 25 October, ECAS will take part in training free movement activists at the European Alternatives' Transeuropa Festival in Madrid . The training, part of the ACT for Free Movement project, is the second in a series of four workshops before the activists launch, in 2018, their free movement projects to defend the right to - [Beyond Fake News - A Workshop on Media Literacy and Fact Checking](https://ecas.org/event/beyond-fake-news-a-workshop-on-media-literacy-and-fact-checking/) - We are now subject to media messages more than at any time in history. As the barriers for entry to create professional-looking multimedia content have been lifted, democratising content production and giving everyday people the opportunity to contribute, so too has the need to verify the reliability of this content. Digital channels present remarkable opportunities, - [Your Europe Advice Chat on Recognition of Professional Qualifications](https://ecas.org/event/your-europe-advice-chat-on-recognition-of-professional-qualifications/) - Are you planning to work in another EU country? Do you know whether you need to get your professional qualifications recognised in order to practise your profession abroad?On 9 October, Your Europe legal experts will be answering questions on professional qualifications in the EU, the rules and procedures for getting them recognised in another Member State - [Roundtable - "Brexit and Citizens' Rights: Where Do We Go From Here?"](https://ecas.org/event/roundtable-brexit-and-citizens-rights-where-do-we-go-from-here/) - Almost a year on from the EU referendum in the UK, it is still unclear what will happen to the rights of the estimated 3.2 million Europeans living in the UK and the 1.2 million Britons living elsewhere in Europe. In her letter triggering Article 50 TEU on 29 March, Theresa May put the interests of - [Launch of DEEP-Linking youth Digital Dashboard (March)](https://ecas.org/event/launch-of-deep-linking-youth-digital-dashboard-march/) - [Free Movement of Persons in the EU: A Loved and Feared Reality](https://ecas.org/event/free-movement-of-persons-in-the-eu-a-loved-and-feared-reality/) - It is 60 years since the concept of free movement of persons was first established by the Treaty of Rome, and it has since evolved to become the cornerstone of EU citizenship. Today, EU citizens have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States and, despite the various challenges - [Digital Dashboard Launch](https://ecas.org/event/digital-dashboard-launch/) - As part of the DEEP-Linking Youth project (funded under the Erasmus+ programme), a consortium of seven European partners are launching the so-called Digital Dashboard. The event will take place on 22 March form 9.30am until 1pm at the Brussels Press Club.The Digital Dashboard is an e-platform built to listen and understand what opinions young people - [Implications of Brexit for the rights of disabled people in the UK](https://ecas.org/event/implications-of-brexit-for-the-rights-of-disabled-people-in-the-uk/) - About this workshopThis workshop is organised by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), in cooperation with the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), with the financial support of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. The aim of the workshop is to look at the impact Brexit is likely to have - [Brexit and Citizens' Rights: The Case of Gibraltar](https://ecas.org/event/brexit-and-citizens-rights-the-case-of-gibraltar/) - This workshop is organised by ECAS, in partnership with Citizens Advice International (CAI) with the support of the Government of Gibraltar and Hassans International Law firm. The aim of this debate is to consider how citizens' rights could be impacted under different Brexit scenarios and to enable citizens to better assert their rights and advocate for the - [Brexit Workshop in Northern Ireland](https://ecas.org/event/brexit-workshop-in-northern-ireland/) - This workshop, jointly organised by ECAS and the Centre for Cross Border Studies in Nothern Ireland, is part of the project Brexit Takeaways, which aims to provide citizens with evidence-based information on how the final deal reached between the EU and the UK might impact their rights, in order to allow them to back the best - [Freedom of Choice Under Threat - ELIANT's Launch Conference in Brussels](https://ecas.org/event/freedom-of-choice-under-threat-eliants-launch-conference-in-brussels/) - The European Alliance of Initiatives for Applied Anthroposophy (ELIANT) has the pleasure to invite you to its international conference in Brussels “Freedom of Choice Under Threat: What Can European Citizens Do?”, coinciding with its 10th anniversary. The Conference is organised by ELIANT, with the support of ECAS.About ELIANT: ELIANT is an alliance of 10 European - [Register Now for ECAS' Advanced Training Modules](https://ecas.org/event/register-now-for-ecas-advanced-training-modules/) - Register now for ECAS' advanced training workshops covering EU fundraising, advocacy and agenda-setting at the EU-level, and European project management! The workshops will be held at ECAS' premises in Brussels for a maximum of 8 participants per module. Whether you are seeking to enhance your advocacy skills, improve your organisations’ communication strategy, launch effective campaigns, increase your organisation’s - [Your Europe Advice Chat on doing business abroad in Europe](https://ecas.org/event/your-europe-advice-chat-on-doing-business-abroad-in-europe/) - On 23 January 2017, the European Commission and Your Europe are organising an online chat to answer your questions on starting a business in another EU country. Our Your Europe Advice legal experts will be replying to your questions on that day between 11am and 1pm. A dedicated Facebook page has been created where you can - [Online YEA Chat on Professional Qualifications in the EU](https://ecas.org/event/online-yea-chat-on-professional-qualifications-in-the-eu/) - On 18 April 2016, between 11am and 1pm, legal experts from the Your Europe Advice team will answer questions asked by citizens via a Facebook chat concerning the recognition of professional qualifications in the EU.Whether you are already working or just qualified in the EU and planning to work in another EU country, you need to - [Free Movement in the EU: Challenges and Prospects for EU Citizens Workshop](https://ecas.org/event/free-movement-in-the-eu-challenges-and-prospects-for-eu-citizens-workshop/) - As part of the Civil Society Days 2016 ECAS will be hosting a workshop on free movement in the EU on the 1st of June. This workshop will be moderated by EU Swiss correspondent Niklaus Nuspliger and will be comprised of two panels: The first panel will analyse the current trends with regard to free movement in - [Idea Lab - EU digital toolbox for successful e-participation (as part of #EYE2016)](https://ecas.org/event/idea-lab-eu-digital-toolbox-for-successful-e-participation-as-part-of-eye2016/) - ECAS has been selected as a programme contributor to the 2016 edition of the European Youth Event (EYE), which is organised by the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This year the EYE will take place on the 20th and 21st of May and will focus on the following 5 topics: War and Peace: Perspectives for a - [Register for ECAS' Spring Training Modules!](https://ecas.org/event/register-for-ecas-spring-training-modules/) - On the occasion of its upcoming 25th anniversary, ECAS has expanded the services it offers to the non-profit sector with customised training modules on several topics, including Communication and Advocacy, EU Fundraising and Project Management. These are organised for groups of maximum 8 people at our own premises on a biannual basis (Fall session and Spring session).Whether you are - [U-Impact Conference in Rome: Improving patients’ rights in the age of the Cross Border Healthcare Directive](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-conference-in-rome-improving-patients-rights-in-the-age-of-the-cross-border-healthcare-directive/) - On the 4th of March 2016 our partner in Italy, the Active Citizenship Network (ACN) is hosting a European conference and webinar in Rome on the patients' rights in the light of the Cross Border Health Directive, as part of the U-Impact project.Patients may want to access cross-border health services for various reasons: when a particular - [U-Impact Debate in Lyon on EU Aid](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-debate-in-lyon-on-eu-aid/) - Our partner in France, Irex Europe, is organising on 12 March 2016 a participatory debate in Lyon (France) to explore the issue of EU Development Aid in the context of the current migration crisis faced today by EU member states. An initial debate in its classic form will be followed by participatory citizen discussion panels in order to - [U-Impact Debate in Tallin: The Voice of Citizens in the European Refugee Crisis](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-debate-in-tallin-the-voice-of-citizens-in-the-european-refugee-crisis/) - Our partner in Estonia, Open Estonia Foundation, is organizing a public debate entitled 'The Voice of the Citizens in European Refugee Crisis - Who Listens to Us, Who Represents Us?' on the 10th of February in Tallin (Estonia). The event will focus on the role of the EU institutions in solving the refugee crisis and the - [ECAS at the Forum Citoyenneté](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-at-the-forum-citoyennete/) - ECAS and the Your Europe Advice service will be present at the Forum Citoyenneté at La Tentation on Thursday 4 February between 10am and 20pm.The Citizenship Forum (Forum Citoyenneté) is part of the European project One-stop-shop for the political participation of mobile EU citizens and it is co-organised by Objectif – a Belgian association that works to promote rights - [Your Europe Advice Training Seminar](https://ecas.org/event/your-europe-advice-training-seminar/) - Legal experts working for Your Europe Advice (YEA) from throughout the EU will gather for training on EU law along with the management team. Dates to be confirmed. - [U-Impact debate on Opportunities for Citizen Participation](https://ecas.org/event/u-impact-debate-on-opportunities-for-citizen-participation/) - Our partner in Cyprus, the NGO Support Centre, is organizing a public debate entitled “Civil Society and the EU” on the 6th of November in Nicosia. The debate will take place at the EU House in Nicosia and will explore the ways citizens and Civil Society Organizations can actively participate in and influence the policy making - [Online YEA Healthcare Chat](https://ecas.org/event/online-yea-healthcare-chat/) - On November 17th, legal experts from the Your Europe Advice team will field questions asked by citizens related to European health care law. You can ask questions now and follow the chat on Facebook. - [Save the Date: 'Security or Rights – Does it Have to Be an Either-Or Question?'](https://ecas.org/event/save-the-date-security-or-rights-does-it-have-to-be-an-either-or-question/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) and the European Movement International (EMI) are pleased to invite you to our joint event 'Security or Rights - Does it have to be an either-or question?'Our panel will feature the following experts: Timothy Kirkhope, MEP, European Parliament Rapporteur for the PNR Directive Jarosław Lotarski, Policy Officer, DG Migration and Home Affairs - [Traning Seminar: EU Law Rights & Advocacy](https://ecas.org/event/traning-seminar-eu-law-rights-advocacy/) - [Facebook Chat on EU passenger rights on the 28 April 2015](https://ecas.org/event/facebook-chat-on-eu-passenger-rights-on-the-28-april-2015/) - Delayed train? Cancelled flight? European travelers may be entitled to a refund, compensation and/or other assistance. Ask EU experts about your passenger rights in a live chat on 28 April between 11.00-13.00 CET. #EUChatOn 28 April 2015 between 11.00 and 13.00, Your Europe Advice will organize a live Facebook chat on EU passenger rights. Five experts will reply to citizens’ and - [PANEL FREE MOVEMENT OF PROFESSIONALS](https://ecas.org/event/panel-free-movement-of-professionals/) - PANEL FREE MOVEMENT OF PROFESSIONALSHow does it make the EU richer and smarter? Challenges and Potentials For more information: http://www.epnetwork.eu/event/panel-free-movement-of-professionals-on-16-june-2015-european-parliament - [Study visit of 24 Romanian and Hungarian Civil Society Organisations to Brussels](https://ecas.org/event/study-visit-of-24-romanian-and-hungarian-civil-society-organisations-to-brussels/) - In the framework of the EPIC project, ECAS is organising a study visit for 24 civil society organisations from Hungary and Romania coming to Brussels. The purpose of the study visit is to gather knowledge on how the EU institutions function and what is the role of civil society organisations at EU level. - [My Mobility Mentor: Feedback and Evaluation Meeting](https://ecas.org/event/my-mobility-mentor-feedback-and-evaluation-meeting/) - ECAS is holding a feedback and evaluation meeting with the partners (Law Centres Network, UK; International University College of Turin - IUC, Italy; National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux - NACAB, Romania; Foundation for Access to Rights - FAR, Bulgaria), external experts (Centre for Cross Border Studies, Ireland; Indvandrerrådgivningen, Denmark) and the evaluator of the - [YEA Training Seminar](https://ecas.org/event/yea-training-seminar/) - This YEA training seminar is co-organised with the European Commission and YEA experts participate in this training every year. - [ECAS General Assembly 2014](https://ecas.org/event/ecas-general-assembly-2014/) - This year, the General Assembly will deal with the formal business of ECAS and will discuss the proposed amendments to the statutes concerning the reform of the system of membership as well as the new package of services to members. A briefing on upcoming events and activities will be provided by the Director. Please note, - [Seminar: Free Movement in the EU Today: Challenges and Opportunities](https://ecas.org/event/seminar-free-movement-in-the-eu-today-challenges-and-opportunities/) - ECAS is pleased to invite you to a lunchtime seminar “Free Movement in the EU Today: Challenges and Opportunities” organized together with Ms Jean Lambert, MEP on the 12th of November at the European Parliament, Brussels from 13.00 - 15.00, room ASP 5E1 (A light lunch will be available from 12.45) The meeting will shed - [Pre-departure meeting in Sofia](https://ecas.org/event/pre-departure-meeting-in-sofia/) - The pre-departure meeting is an opportunity to provide first information to citizens in Bulgaria willing to work abroad. The participants will be informed about working conditions abroad, free movement rights and related matters. - [Pre-departure meeting in Bucharest](https://ecas.org/event/pre-departure-meeting-in-bucharest/) - The pre-departure meeting is an opportunity to provide first information to citizens in Romania willing to work abroad. The participants will be informed about working conditions abroad, free movement rights and related matters. - [My Mobility Mentor: London (Post arrival “town-hall” meeting)](https://ecas.org/event/my-mobility-mentor-london-post-arrival-town-hall-meeting/) - This Post-arrival “town-hall” meeting will be organised by the Law Centres Network for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens in the UK. At this event the participants will have the chance to learn more about living and working in the UK, free movement rights and related matters, and what to do if things go wrong while working - [My Mobility Mentor: Turin (Post arrival “town-hall” meeting)](https://ecas.org/event/my-mobility-mentor-turin-post-arrival-town-hall-meeting/) - This Post-arrival “town-hall” meeting will be organised by the University College of Turin for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens in Italy. At this event the participants will have the chance to learn more about living and working in Italy, free movement rights and related matters, and what to do if things go wrong while working in - [My Mobility Mentor: Brussels (Post arrival “town-hall” meeting)](https://ecas.org/event/my-mobility-mentor-brussels-post-arrival-town-hall-meeting/) - This Post-arrival “town-hall” meeting will be organised by ECAS for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens in Belgium. At this event the participants will have the chance to learn more about living and working in Belgium, free movement rights and related matters, and what to do if things go wrong while working in Belgium.You can register until - [European Interns Day](https://ecas.org/event/european-interns-day/) - Friday 18 July 2014 12:00 - 17:00 more informations - [Europe+ Launch](https://ecas.org/event/europe-launch/) - [Citizen Participation University 2014](https://ecas.org/event/citizen-participation-university-2014/) - Strenghtening EU Participation - Social Inclusion and Exclusion - Sustainability, Global Thinking a local resourseThe event will be organized in the residential training centre of the Civil College Foundation in Kunszentmiklós- Kunbábony, 76 kms South of Budapest. Info about the College: http://www.civilkollegium.hu , http://www.civilkollegium.hu/english/ Travel- People will arrive to the Budapest Airport (Terminal 1 or - [The Europeanisation of Everyday Life: Cross-Border Practices and Transnational Identities among EU and Third-Country Citizens](https://ecas.org/event/the-europeanisation-of-everyday-life-cross-border-practices-and-transnational-identities-among-eu-and-third-country-citizens/) ## Facilities - [kristina.velimirovic](https://ecas.org/facility/kristina-velimirovic-3/) - 📢 Dear ECAS members, we’re excited to invite you to the State of the Union Citizens’ Rights 2026 Conference! This flagship annual event brings together civil society, policymakers, and experts to discuss the future of EU citizenship and how to strengthen citizens’ rights across Europe. This year’s topic: Strengthening European identity in turbulent times: Citizenship, - [Share your perspective and receive the following benefits!](https://ecas.org/facility/moral-emotions-in-politics-mores/) - The Morals and Emotions in Politics (MORES) project invites European citizens to share their perspectives on how emotions influence public opinion on key EU issues, such as climate action, the war in Ukraine, food safety, migration, and fiscal policy.MORES is a research and innovation project addressing the challenges faced by democracy, particularly how moral emotions, - [Upcoming webinar: Unlock the power of the European Citizens’ Initiative!](https://ecas.org/facility/kristina-velimirovic-2/) - In this 1-our webinar, hosted by the ECI Forum, you can learn how to make your voice heard in EU policymaking through the ECI. Hear real stories and proven strategies from the organisers of Stop Destroying Videogames and HouseEurope! Power to Renovation and learn how to launch and run a successful initiative.Date: Thursday, 15 MayTime: - [kristina.velimirovic](https://ecas.org/facility/kristina-velimirovic/) - CERV Call for proposals ALERT! - Citizens’ engagement and participation This call aims to support projects promoted by transnational partnerships and networks directly involving citizens: Priority 1: Promoting exchanges on future Union policy priorities and challenges Priority 2: Countering disinformation, information manipulation and interference in the democratic debate Priority 3: Promoting citizens’ active engagement and - [Simon_Delakorda](https://ecas.org/facility/simon_delakorda/) - Co-creating digital policies in Slovenia 2 (CODIS 2) project executive summary intended for ECAS members interested in submitting a proposal to Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU – 2025 (Lot 2 - Ensuring digital transformation that leaves no one behind). More information: https://www.inepa.si/2025/01/08/co-creating-digital-policies-in-slovenia-2-codis-2-project-executive-summary/. - [The Wheel](https://ecas.org/facility/the-wheel/) - 🇪🇺 Find your EU Project Partner: CERV Calls 🇮🇪Would you like to gear up for the new EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) funding opportunities and meet potential partners?Join our free online event to connect with organisations from IRELAND for networking and discussing project ideas!📅 Wednesday, 5 February⏰ 11:00am to 1:00pm CET✅ Free🌐 ## Projects - [OWN-EU](https://ecas.org/projects/own-eu/) - [Gender equality and non-discrimination](https://ecas.org/projects/gender-equality-and-non-discrimination-at-ecas/) - [European Citizens’ Initiative Forum](https://ecas.org/projects/european-citizens-initiative-forum/) - The European Citizens’ Initiative Forum helps citizens shape EU policy with expert advice, learning tools and collaborative support for impactful initiatives. - [IDEU](https://ecas.org/projects/ideu/) - [Crowdsourcing Platform for Civic Participation – Call for Expressions of Interest](https://ecas.org/projects/call-for-expressions-of-interest/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is seeking expressions of interest from qualified organisations and consortia to design, develop, and deploy a new digital crowdsourcing platform for civic participation. Building on more than a decade of experience in citizen engagement and participatory democracy, ECAS intends to develop a next-generation platform that integrates advanced AI capabilities, - [MediaResilience](https://ecas.org/projects/mediaresilience/) - [Call for Proposals : Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU - 2026](https://ecas.org/projects/call-for-proposals-grant-making-to-ecas-members-in-the-eu-2026/) - [Call for Proposals : Grant-making to ECAS Members in the EU - 2024](https://ecas.org/projects/call-for-proposals-2024-ecas-grant-making-to-its-members-in-the-eu/) - [Repository of Good Practices](https://ecas.org/projects/repository-of-good-practices/) - [GRACE](https://ecas.org/projects/grace/) - [Info Tool Kit Teleworking](https://ecas.org/projects/toolkit-teleworking/) - Discover the Tool Kit Teleworking by ECAS. Learn best practices, tools, and strategies to improve remote work, productivity, and collaboration. - [European Voluntary Service (EVS)](https://ecas.org/projects/evs/) - Learn how the European Voluntary Service (EVS) helps young people volunteer across Europe while gaining valuable personal and professional experience. - [Human stories Campaign](https://ecas.org/projects/human-stories/) - Explore ECAS's human stories campaign and discover how EU citizens experience life abroad and create new beginnings. - [The Fifth Freedom: The Freedom of Knowledge](https://ecas.org/projects/the-fifth-freedom/) - [Call for Proposals: ECAS Grant-making to its Members in the EU](https://ecas.org/projects/call-for-proposals/) - [ECAS Citizenship Innovation Awards](https://ecas.org/projects/ecas-awards-for-innovative-citizenship/) - [EURECA (European Citizenship Accelerator) Plus 2026](https://ecas.org/projects/european-citizenship-accelerator-eureca/) - [SUPA](https://ecas.org/projects/supa/) - [Souhrnné informace o práci na dálku](https://ecas.org/projects/souhrnne-informace-o-praci-na-dalku/) - [Info Tool Kit Télétravail](https://ecas.org/projects/info-tool-kit-teletravail/) - [Kit de herramientas de información para el teletrabajo](https://ecas.org/projects/kit-de-herramientas-de-informacion-para-el-teletrabajo/) - [Távmunka információs eszköztár](https://ecas.org/projects/tavmunka-informacios-eszkoztar/) - [Info-toolkit telearbeit](https://ecas.org/projects/info-toolkit-telearbeit/) - [Infotoolkit telewerken](https://ecas.org/projects/infotoolkit-telewerken/) - [Εργαλειοθηκη πληροφοριων για την τηλεργασια](https://ecas.org/projects/εργαλειοθηκη-πληροφοριων-για-την-τηλ/) - [Set de instrumente informative privind telemunca](https://ecas.org/projects/set-de-instrumente-informative-privind-telemunca/) - [Sett ta’ għodda informattivi dwar it-telexogħol](https://ecas.org/projects/sett-ta-ghodda-informattivi-dwar-it-telexoghol/) - [Conjunto de ferramentas de informação de teletrabalho](https://ecas.org/projects/conjunto-de-ferramentas-de-informacao-de-teletrabalho/) - [Kit di Strumenti Informativi sul Telelavoro](https://ecas.org/projects/kit-di-strumenti-informativi-sul-telelavoro/) - [Zbirka informacij za delo na daljavo](https://ecas.org/projects/zbirka-informacij-za-delo-na-daljavo/) - [Súbor informácií o telepráci](https://ecas.org/projects/subor-informacii-o-telepraci/) - [Foireann uirlisí faisnéise teileachumarsáid](https://ecas.org/projects/foireann-uirlisi-faisneise-teileachumarsaid/) - [Pakiet informacji dotyczących pracy zdalnej](https://ecas.org/projects/pakiet-informacji-dotyczacych-pracy-zdalnej/) - [Informativni priručnik o radu na daljinu](https://ecas.org/projects/informativni-prirucnik-o-radu-na-daljinu/) - [Εργαλειοθηκη πληροφοριων για την τηλεργασια](https://ecas.org/projects/εργαλειοθηκη-πληροφοριων-για-την-τηλ-2/) - [Информационен инструментариум за дистанционна работа](https://ecas.org/projects/информационен-инструментариум-за-ди/) - [Tietopaketti etätyöstä](https://ecas.org/projects/tietopaketti-etatyosta/) - [Informationspaket gällande distansarbete](https://ecas.org/projects/informationspaket-gallande-distansarbete/) - [Informācijas materiāls tāldarbam](https://ecas.org/projects/informacijas-materials-taldarbam/) - [Infotehnoloogiavahendite komplekt kaugtööks](https://ecas.org/projects/infotehnoloogiavahendite-komplekt-kaugtooks/) - [Informationspakke vedrørende fjernarbejde](https://ecas.org/projects/informationspakke-vedrorende-fjernarbejde/) - [Informacinė priemonė dirbantiems nuotoliu](https://ecas.org/projects/informacine-priemone-dirbantiems-nuotoliu/) - [Crowdsourcing](https://ecas.org/projects/crowdsourcing/) - [ECI Forum](https://ecas.org/projects/eci-forum/) - [PACT](https://ecas.org/projects/pact/) - [Civil Society Accelerator](https://ecas.org/projects/civil-society-accelerator/) - [Civil Society Hub](https://ecas.org/projects/civil-society-hub/) - In alphabetic order (by organisation represented) Last update: August 2021 Negin Ajam, Alliance4Europe Learn more about her work | member since 2021 Omri Preiss, Alliance4Europe Learn more about his work | member since 2021 Rynaldo Puusep, Avatud Ühiskond MTÜ Learn more about his work | member since 2021 Vinicius Gorczeski, Centre for Social Sciences, Hungarian - [BOLSTER](https://ecas.org/projects/bolster/) - [EU-CIEMBLY](https://ecas.org/projects/eu-ciembly/) - [INTERFACED](https://ecas.org/projects/interfaced/) - [European Elections Dystopia](https://ecas.org/projects/european-elections-dystopia/) - [MORES](https://ecas.org/projects/mores/) - [ProEUvaluesBG](https://ecas.org/projects/proeuvaluesbgecas/) - [Promise](https://ecas.org/projects/promise/) - [First Aid Democracy Toolkits](https://ecas.org/projects/first-aid-democracy-toolkits/) - [ECAS Podcast](https://ecas.org/projects/ecas-podcast/) - [Digital Transformation](https://ecas.org/projects/digital-transformation/) - [Production of Human Stories Videos Tender 1](https://ecas.org/projects/production-of-human-stories-videos-tender-1/) - In view of launching a human stories campaign in early 2024 to illustrate the diversity of reasons that drive mobility in the European Union, especially those linked with values and emotions, ECAS will commission to an experienced contractor the development of a 10 visually attractive and dynamic videos of up to 5 minutes. Background A - [DEMOS](https://ecas.org/projects/demos/) - This project is implemented in partnership with the following organisations: Centre for Social Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (CSS HAS) University of Hamburg (UHAM) Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan (AMU) Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) School of Communication and Media (SKAMBA) University for Business Engineering and Management - [Understanding Populism](https://ecas.org/projects/understanding-populism/) - [Digital Democracy](https://ecas.org/projects/digital-democracy/) - [CODE Europe](https://ecas.org/projects/code-europe/) - [Civil Society Against Disinformation](https://ecas.org/projects/civil-society-against-disinformation/) - [DigiDEM](https://ecas.org/projects/digidem/) - [Freedom of Movement in the EU](https://ecas.org/projects/freedom-of-movement-in-the-eu/) - [Your Europe Advice (YEA)](https://ecas.org/projects/your-europe-advice-yea/) - Your Europe Advice answers questions from… Individuals who are nationals of the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein;Non-Europeans – if they are family members of an EU national or resident in an EU country;Businesses having their seat in the EU;European/national information and advice services, on behalf of individuals. Questions about… A real (not theoretical) situation - [joiEU](https://ecas.org/projects/joint-citizen-action-for-a-stronger-citizen-friendly-union/) - Outcomes of the project: A Digital Democracy Day was held in Brussels on January 27, 2015. Publication: Co-Deciding with Citizens: Towards Digital Democracy at EU Level Find the debates and other publications from JoiEU here: http://joieu.net/project-publications/ - [EPIC](https://ecas.org/projects/epic/) - Outcomes of the Project Increased awareness and knowledge of ECIs through various events. Publication: Active in Europe: Premises for a More Participatory European Civil Society - [EUCROWD](https://ecas.org/projects/eucrowd/) - [You Vote EU](https://ecas.org/projects/you-vote-eu/) - “You are helping to change the world! A most sincere THANK YOU for the great work you do for ECIs and especially for your support for the End The Cage Age ECI.” Compassion in World Farming EU “Thank you very much for the good results achieved with YouVoteEU. We would like to congratulate you on - [Smart eDemocracy Against Fake News (SMART eD)](https://ecas.org/projects/smarted/) - [Road to European Parliament 2019](https://ecas.org/projects/rep-2019/) - [NEXUS](https://ecas.org/projects/nexus/) - [Brussels for CLEAN AIR](https://ecas.org/projects/brussels-for-clean-air/) - [User-friendly Gateways for Mobile EU Citizens](https://ecas.org/projects/user-friendly-gateways-for-mobile-eu-citizens/) - Druk op de pijltoetsen om te navigeren.Gebruik ⌘ + scrollen om in en uit te zoomen op de kaart←Naar links→Naar rechts↑Omhoog↓Omlaag+Inzoomen-UitzoomenHome75% naar links schuivenEnd75% naar rechts schuivenPage Up75% omhoog schuivenPage Down75% omlaag schuivenKaartTerreinSatellietLabelsSneltoetsenKaartgegevensKaartgegevens ©2022 Google, INEGIKaartgegevens ©2022 Google, INEGI500 km GebruiksvoorwaardenEen kaartfout rapporteren - [U-Impact](https://ecas.org/projects/u-impact/) - Join our Active Citizens for Common European Solutions (ACCES)! Deeply concerned by the lack of a common European approach to the current migrant crisis in Europe and by the threat this poses to such founding principles of the Union as solidarity and freedom of movement, the partners of the U-Impact project have drafted a letter to the Members of the European - [DEEP-Linking Youth](https://ecas.org/projects/deep-linking-youth/) - [pop AI](https://ecas.org/projects/pop-ai/) - [We Are Europe – Empowering European Civil Society (WAE)](https://ecas.org/projects/we-are-europe/) - [IMPEU](https://ecas.org/projects/impeu/) - [One-Stop-Shops for Political Participation](https://ecas.org/projects/one-stop-shops-for-political-participation-of-mobile-eu-citizens/) - [vc_row center_row=””][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_text_separator title=”One-Stop-Shops for Political Participation of Mobile EU Citizens” title_align=”separator_align_left” element_type=”h2″][vc_accordion active_tab=”1″ collapsible=”yes”][vc_accordion_tab title=”Description”][vc_column_text] The project, funded by the European Commission and led by the Migration Policy Group (MPG), focuses on informing and encouraging EU mobile citizens to take up rights and opportunities to participate in their host EU country’s civic and political life. - [ENRAC](https://ecas.org/projects/eu-rights-clinic/enrac/) - [ECI Support Centre](https://ecas.org/projects/eci-support-centre/) - What does ECAS do? Get the Mobile App Here - [Triple A](https://ecas.org/projects/triple-a/) - [FAIR EU](https://ecas.org/projects/fair-eu/) - [ACT for Free Movement](https://ecas.org/projects/epim-project/) - [Study on EU Residence Cards and IDs](https://ecas.org/projects/study-eu-residence-ids/) - [Benefit Tourism](https://ecas.org/projects/benefit-tourism/) - Outcomes of the project: Conference: Free Movement in the EU Today: Challenges and Opportunities Publication: Fiscal impact of EU migrants in four member-states, Latchezar Bogdanov Campaign: Seven Strategies to Improve Free Movement, Anthony Valcke Campaign: Right to Move Press-release: EU citizens living in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK contribute more than they receive from their host country Press-release: Members - [My Mobility Mentor](https://ecas.org/projects/mobility-mentor/) - Outcomes of the project Developed a website to provide guidance to Bulgarians and Romanians planning to move Developed Practical Guides in 6 different languages: EN RO BG IT NL FR - [EU Rights Clinic](https://ecas.org/projects/eu-rights-clinic/) - [CORE](https://ecas.org/projects/core/) - [MORE for EU Citizens](https://ecas.org/projects/more-for-eu-citizens/) - [Brexit Takeaways](https://ecas.org/projects/brexit-takeaways/) - Media Coverage “Brexit: three categories of people at risk you haven’t heard about” (17 April 2017, Europe Street News) “Citizens’ rights and EU trade agreements: where is the best match?” (13 April 2017, Europe Street News) “Disabled EU citizens raise fears over post-Brexit residency rights” (23 March 2017, Disability News Service) “Disabled people must ‘take initiative’ in fight to keep - [Civil Society Dialogue Turkey](https://ecas.org/projects/civil-society-dialogue-turkey/) - Outcomes of the project: Civil society from Turkey networked and connected with European NGOs in Brussels. Development of the database on best practices and other useful tools for civil society in Turkey (Turkish only). ## Publications - [Guidelines on Accessible Communications](https://ecas.org/publication/guidelines-on-accessible-communications/) - Accessible communication helps ensure that information can be understood and used by everyone, regardless of disability, language background, literacy level, or communication preferences. These guidelines provide practical recommendations for creating more accessible and inclusive written documents. They cover key topics such as inclusive and plain language, document structure, readable formatting, colour contrast, alternative text for Discover ECAS's new report, The Fifth Freedom in the European Research Area, exploring barriers to researcher mobility across Europe and recommendations for strengthening the European Research Area. - [ECAS Report: Insights from Researchers on the Fifth Freedom in Europe](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-report-insights-from-researchers-on-the-fifth-freedom-in-europe/) - ECAS has published a new report, The Fifth Freedom in the European Research Area, examining the challenges researchers face when moving and working across Europe. Based on a survey of researchers from EU Member States, the report reveals strong support for the formal recognition of a "Fifth Freedom" within the European Union: the free movement Discover ECAS's new report, The Fifth Freedom in the European Research Area, exploring barriers to researcher mobility across Europe and recommendations for strengthening the European Research Area. - [How can citizen participation truly include those most affected by inequality?](https://ecas.org/publication/how-can-citizen-participation-truly-include-those-most-affected-by-inequality/) - A new policy brief from the EU-CIEMBLY project explores how an intersectional approach can make citizens’ assemblies and participatory processes more inclusive, equitable, and effective. Drawing on research across local, national, and EU-level assemblies, the brief shows why traditional diversity measures often fail to capture overlapping forms of disadvantage and presents practical solutions to - [Political participation of EU mobile citizens in The Netherlands](https://ecas.org/publication/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-the-netherlands/) - Focus report on ECAS focus group held in the Netherlands on EU mobile citizens’ political rights ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. - [Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2025](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-annual-trends-2025/) - In 2025, Your Europe Advice (YEA) received 20,863 legal advice requests, with its experts responding to 14,643 eligible cases. Additionally, YEA handled 275 enquiries from 23 SOLVIT centres, marking a 72% increase from 2024—the highest number ever recorded. These requests provide valuable insights into the challenges EU citizens and businesses face regarding their rights, particularly In 2025, Your Europe Advice handled 20,863 legal enquiries, highlighting top issues like social security, residence rights, and entry procedures. Discover key trends and citizen feedback. - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2024](https://ecas.org/publication/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2024/) - On 19 March 2024, we hosted the sixth edition of the State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference. The event deliverable report provides an overview of the agenda and key takeaways from this milestone event. This year’s edition was particularly timely, coinciding with the upcoming European Parliament elections. As a result, the conference focused on - [Digital Inclusion Guidelines 2024](https://ecas.org/publication/digital-inclusion-guidelines-2024/) - The 2024 Digital Inclusion Guidelines have been published! Despite the EU’s long-standing focus on advancing digital policies, significant challenges remain in ensuring a truly inclusive digital transformation—one that does not deepen existing inequalities. Civil society organisations across Europe are voicing growing concerns about privacy issues, mass surveillance, racial bias in AI and algorithms, the spread - [2025 Civil Society State of the Union](https://ecas.org/publication/2025-civil-society-state-of-the-union/) - Earlier this month, we participated in the launch of the 2025 Civil Society State of the Union, organised by Civil Society Europe and co-hosted by European Parliament Vice-Presidents Katarina Barley and Nicolae Ștefănuță. During the event, the official 2025 Civil Society State of the Union report was unveiled. Addressed to EU institutions and Member - [Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2024](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-annual-trends-2024/) - In 2024, the number of questions received by the YEA service increased slightly compared to 2023. The number of ineligible questions was high (21%), but stable compared to 2023. Some UK requests are no longer covered by EU law. Enquiries were received from third-country nationals and third-country businesses that were not related to EU law - [Right of Residence beyond three months under Directive 2004/38](https://ecas.org/publication/right-of-residence-beyond-three-months-under-directive-2004-38/) - Freedom of movement allows EU citizens and their (non-EU) family members to move and reside freely across the EU. However, this right is subject to limitations. Directive 2004/38 is the main EU legislative tool, defining who can benefit from free movement and what restrictions apply to residence rights. In order to complement and further - [An introduction to organising inclusive events](https://ecas.org/publication/an-introduction-to-organising-inclusive-events/) - The ECAS publication “How to organise inclusive events” provides an introduction to effective strategies to practice inclusiveness in the planning of our online, in-person and hybrid events at different scales. The Guidelines are structured around six focus areas, each one listing useful provisions that can support inclusiveness in our events: Location, Time, Catering, Content - [Strengthening the power of the European Citizens’ Initiative](https://ecas.org/publication/strengthening-the-power-of-the-european-citizens-initiative/) - In this article featured in Bulgaria's national news agency, our Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova, discussed the importance of the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) as a powerful tool for citizens to participate in EU policy-making and influence EU legislation. The EU institutions must do much more to strengthen the European Citizens' Initiative power and impact. - [Civil Society State of the Union Report](https://ecas.org/publication/civil-society-state-of-the-union-report/) - The CS SOTEU 2023 Report, addressed to EU institutions and EU Member States, proposes CSOs vision and critical recommendations for a more democratic, green and just European Union. This report counted with the contributions of 43 independent CSOs. Under Chapter 5 A digital transformation that leaves no one behind in the EU, the subgroup, chaired by Elisa - [Analysis of the Commission’s Guidance in Addressing the Obstacles to Free Movement](https://ecas.org/publication/analysis-of-the-commissions-guidance-in-addressing-the-obstacles-to-free-movement/) - This Policy Brief, developed by ECAS and FEANTSA, summarises the main takeaways from an analysis of the European Commission’s Guidance on the right of free movement of EU citizens and their families, issued in December 2023. The document outlines the areas successfully clarified by the Guidance, the areas that remain problematic regarding freedom of - [ECAS’s 10th Anniversary Digital Democracy Day 2024 – Report](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-10th-anniversary-digital-democracy-day-2024-report/) - Explore the key discussions from ECAS’s 10th Anniversary Digital Democracy Day 2024 in this detailed report. The event featured two engaging panels: one reflecting on a decade of e-participation, examining its successes and lessons learned, and another looking ahead at how AI, blockchain, and the metaverse could reshape democratic governance. With expert insights into the - [Empowering EU mobile citizens' political participation](https://ecas.org/publication/empowering-eu-mobile-citizens-political-participation/) - In this article in The Brussels Times, our Communications Manager, Marta Azevedo Silva, presented existing barriers that hinder the political engagement of EU mobile citizens in their host countries and explored solutions that can foster their political rights. These findings are based on the focus groups on political participation of EU mobile citizens that we've - [Recommendations towards a safe use of AI tools in the security domain](https://ecas.org/publication/recommendations-towards-a-safe-use-of-ai-tools-in-the-security-domain/) - This brochure outlines recommendations for: assisting Law enforcement Agencies towards an ethical and efficient use of new AI tools, helping them perform operational tasks in the security domain; policy recommendations aim to provide solutions for future legal developments on the scope, purpose and limitations of the use of AI in the security domain and, recommendations - [Voting Rights: How to raise awareness](https://ecas.org/publication/voting-rights-how-to-raise-awareness/) - All EU citizens of voting age benefit from the right to vote and stand as candidates both in the municipal and European elections of their country of residence. Yet, although precise data on turnout is missing, studies have shown that there is an apparent lack of interest in the political landscape of the host country. - [Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in Belgium](https://ecas.org/publication/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-belgium/) - On 7 June 2024, ECAS organised a roundtable with representatives of NGOs, political parties, public administrations and mobile EU citizens on the political participation of EU mobile citizens in Belgium. The focus group's goal was to gain a better insight into the challenges EU mobile citizens face regarding their electoral rights, improve their participation in - [Electoral rights of EU mobile citizens facing homelessness](https://ecas.org/publication/electoral-rights-of-eu-mobile-citizens-facing-homelessness/) - EU citizenship grants political rights to its citizens of voting age, such as the right to vote and stand as a candidate in the municipal or European elections in their country of residence. Although this right is crucial for EU mobile citizens who reside in another EU country, recurring obstacles remain in the way and - [Deconstructing Controversies to design a trusted AI future](https://ecas.org/publication/deconstructing-controversies-to-design-a-trusted-ai-future/) - Technology needs to be developed in a way that is both innovative and ethical. When contemplating the future of artificial intelligence (AI), we need to take social controversies into consideration. In this article, a new approach will be brought forward, illustrating how foresight exercises can be used to help shaping the future of AI. A detailed method allowing relevant stakeholders - [Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2023](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-annual-trends-2023/) - In 2023, there was a slight decrease in the number of questions the service received compared to 2022. The number of ineligible questions was high (21%), but stable compared to 2022. Some UK related enquiries are no longer covered by EU law. Enquiries were received from third-country nationals and third-country businesses which were not related - [Crowdsourcing: The Citizens Highway to Policy-making in the EU](https://ecas.org/publication/crowdsourcing-the-citizens-highway-to-policy-making-in-the-eu/) - The policy paper "Crowdsourcing: The Citizens' Highway to Policymaking in the EU" provides a comprehensive understanding of the added value of the method of crowdsourcing of citizens' opinions to the quality of our European democracy and its success factors by linking theory and practice. Crowdsourcing is a digital democracy method that mobilises the so called - [Gender-inclusive language guidelines](https://ecas.org/publication/gender-inclusive-language-guidelines/) - One of the pillars of the Treaties (TEU, Article 2) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Article 21) is the principle of gender equality and non-discrimination on gender grounds. At ECAS, we are committed to gender equality and non-discrimination on gender grounds. The use and promotion of gender-inclusive language is one of the ways of implementing - [Citizens and institutions together for clean air in Burgas](https://ecas.org/publication/citizens-and-institutions-together-for-clean-air-in-burgas/) - On 12 September 2023, ECAS and CODE Europe project partners held a final air quality event in Burgas, the fourth largest city in Bulgaria, located on the Black Sea Coast. The country has had an air quality issue with high levels of air pollution and ranking high in premature deaths caused by PM2. One of - [Roundtable on the political participation of EU mobile citizens in Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/publication/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-luxembourg/) - On 10 May 2023, ECAS organised a roundtable with representatives of NGOs, political parties, public administrations and mobile EU citizens on the political participation of EU mobile citizens in Luxembourg. The goal of the focus group was to get a better insight into the challenges EU mobile citizens face regarding their electoral rights, how their participation in - [Political participation of EU mobile citizens in Spain](https://ecas.org/publication/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-spain-2/) - On 30 March 2023, ECAS organised a focus group in Spanish with representatives of NGOs, political parties, public administrations and mobile EU citizens on the political participation of EU mobile citizens in Spain. The goal of the focus group was to get a better insight into the challenges EU mobile citizens face regarding their electoral rights, - [Policy Briefs: Internet voting for open government](https://ecas.org/publication/internet-voting-for-open-government/) - This policy brief series aims to outline the connection between open government and internet voting and indicate the potential for synergy and practical application. The series introduces the concepts and models of open government and internet voting, provides examples, delineates preconditions, discusses risks, and offers recommendations for introducing i-Voting and enhancing open government. The three - [Crowdsourcing citizens’ ideas can benefit EU policy cycle](https://ecas.org/publication/crowdsourcing-citizens-ideas-can-benefit-eu-policy-cycle/) - We organised a consultative exercise to gather ideas from citizens on improving Air Quality. In an interview for EURACTIV on 29 March 2023, our Digital Democracy Expert, Elisa Lironi, explained why the EU should add crowdsourcing to its existing toolbox of participatory democracy as it is a way to allow citizens to set the agenda - [Love is in the air! Improving Air Quality Through Citizen Action - Report](https://ecas.org/publication/love-is-in-the-air-improving-air-quality-through-citizen-action-report/) - In 2022, ECAS and partners crowdsourced the ideas of thousands of citizens from 10 European cities on how to improve air quality. On 14 February 2023, the event “Love is in the Air! Improving Air Quality in Europe through Citizen Action” presented the main problems with air quality identified by citizens in their cities, - [Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2022: Citizens are going through more complex issues](https://ecas.org/publication/europe-advice-annual-trends-report-2022/) - In 2022, after two years of the pandemic crisis drastically impacting mobility within the European Union, citizens began to travel again: for tourism, work and study. How businesses operate has been irrevocably altered: teleworking has become a norm. The war in Ukraine has also had significant repercussions on the internal market. These dynamics are - [Next Level Participation: Citizen-Driven E-Democracy Tools](https://ecas.org/publication/next-level-participation-citizen-driven-e-democracy-tools/) - ‘Next Level Participation: Citizen-Driven E-Democracy Tools’, is authored by ECAS’ Participatory Democracy Manager, Flavio Grazian, and Citizen Deliberation Coordinator Hendrik Nahr, for the European Liberal Forum (ELF). Information and communication technology (ICT) constitutes an essential element of people’s daily lives in 2020 and the world could not be imagined without the use of digital technologies. - [Countering State Disinformation on Segregation](https://ecas.org/publication/countering-state-disinformation-on-segregation/) - The example of Hungary This series of articles covers the anti-disinformation campaigns in three Central and Eastern European countries, where ECAS aimed to build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to address disinformation narratives or build resilience against these. Because of the region-specific challenges, which are both a precondition for and a result - [Positive Messages to Counter Disinformation on Refugees](https://ecas.org/publication/positive-messages-to-counter-disinformation-on-refugees-2/) - The example of Bulgaria This series of articles covers the anti-disinformation campaigns in three Central and Eastern European countries, where ECAS aimed to build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to address disinformation narratives or build resilience against these. Because of the region-specific challenges, which are both a precondition for and a result - [Preventing Disinformation and Building Trust](https://ecas.org/publication/positive-messages-to-counter-disinformation-on-refugees/) - The example of Slovenia This series of articles covers the anti-disinformation campaigns in three Central and Eastern European countries, where ECAS aimed to build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to address disinformation narratives or build resilience against these. Because of the region-specific challenges, which are both a precondition for and a result of - [Ethical social listening to understand what citizens think on AI tools in police work](https://ecas.org/publication/ethical-social-listening-to-understand-what-citizens-think-on-ai-tools-in-police-work/) - What is social listening? Social (media) listening is a term most frequently used in marketing to denote a process through which one can identify what is being said about a certain brand, product, service or topic. Marketing agencies and companies used it to acquire competitor intelligence, see how the public perceives their new product and - [Digital Inclusion Guidelines](https://ecas.org/publication/digital-inclusion-guidelines/) - During 2022 ECAS conducted Policy co-creation events on Inclusive Digital Transformation in 5 Member States: Irelnad, Portugal, Latvia, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Based on the recommendations we received from citizen and civil society representatives, and after an intense comparative analysis among countries, ECAS developed a set of Digital Inclusion Guidelines. You may find more about - [The European Citizens’ Initiative Forum: Find all the information you need to launch an ECI!](https://ecas.org/publication/the-european-citizens-initiative-forum-find-all-the-information-you-need-to-launch-an-eci/) - On 1 April 2012, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) was launched under Regulation 211/2011, based on the Treaty of Lisbon, Art 11(4) TEU. Now, European citizens had the opportunity to play an active role in EU policy-making. At least 1 million European citizens have the right to as the European Commission to legislate on - [Brussels for Clean Air Crowdsourcing of Citizens’ Solutions](https://ecas.org/publication/brussels-for-clean-air-crowdsourcing-of-citizens-solutions/) - The ‘Brussels for Clean Air’ campaign is one of ten crowdsourcing pilots on the topic of ‘air quality’ being conducted across Europe during 2022 in ten cities as part of the DigiDEM and CODE Europe projects. The crowdsourcing process took place in four phases and each phase had a specific platform and methodology, all - [Political Rights Focus group in the Czech Republic](https://ecas.org/publication/political-rights-focus-group-in-the-czech-republic/) - On 16 September 2022, ECAS organised an online focus group in the Czech Republic with representatives of NGOs, political parties, public administrations and mobile EU citizens on the political participation of of EU mobile citizens in Czech Republic. The goal of the focus group was to get a better insight into the challenges EU mobile citizens - [European Week of Gender Equality: Mobility of Rainbow Families across the European Union](https://ecas.org/publication/european-week-of-gender-equality-mobility-of-rainbow-families-across-the-european-union/) - One of the main target groups of ECAS is mobile citizens. It has been made clear that the Communication on Directive 2004/38 will further clarify and simplify the implementation of free movement to so-called “rainbow families”. The following case law shows where we stand in terms of freedom of movement. Disparities between Member States - [European Week of Gender Equality: Pay Gap and Levels of Employment of Women in Brussels and the EU](https://ecas.org/publication/european-week-of-gender-equality-pay-gap-and-levels-of-employment-of-women-in-brussels-and-the-eu/) - The majority of top jobs in Brussels are still occupied by men, according to the results of the thorough investigation about Employees of the European Institutions conducted by Cornelius Hirsch, William Adkins and Arnau Busquets Guardia and published in Politico. In 2021, among all EU officials, 62% were men. While Belgium is a frontrunner - [European Week of Gender Equality: ECAS’s Ambition in Equality and Diversity](https://ecas.org/publication/european-week-of-gender-equality-ecass-ambition-in-equality-and-diversity/) - ECAS’s ambition is to be a frontrunner in Inclusion and Diversity in the focus areas of its work by taking an active stance against discriminations based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, age or residence. In the framework of the third European week of Gender Equality, organised by the European Parliament - [Participatieve democratie: Brusselaars kunnen de luchtkwaliteit verbeteren door bij te dragen aan een online platform.](https://ecas.org/publication/participatieve-democratie-brusselaars-kunnen-de-luchtkwaliteit/) - Het hele jaar door hebben de Brusselaars de kans om deel te nemen aan de campagne "Brussel voor Schone Lucht". Het doel van deze campagne is om hun meningen en ideeën te verzamelen over hoe de luchtkwaliteit in Brussel verbeterd kan worden. Het project "Brussel voor Schone Lucht", dat door de Europese Commissie wordt gefinancierd, - [„We must make our voices heard and claim our right to better air quality in Brussels“](https://ecas.org/publication/we-must-make-our-voices-heard-and-claim-our-right-to-better-air-quality-in-brussels/) - The Brussels for Clean Air participatory democracy campaign is entering its second phase this month. After two months of collecting air quality problems in Brussels, the crowdsourcing platform is now transformed and enables citizens to propose their solutions to solve the most cited problems. Since the beginning of the campaign, citizen ambassadors have mobilised to - ["Il faut faire entendre notre voix et revendiquer notre droit à un air de meilleure qualité à Bruxelles"](https://ecas.org/publication/il-faut-faire-entendre-notre-voix-et-revendiquer-notre-droit-a-un-air-de-meilleure-qualite-a-bruxelles/) - La campagne de démocratie participative Bruxelles pour un Air Pur entame sa seconde phase ce mois-ci. Après deux mois de collecte des problèmes de qualité de l’air à Bruxelles, la plateforme de crowdsourcing se transforme et permet désormais aux citoyens de proposer leurs solutions pour résoudre les problèmes les plus cités. Depuis le début de - [Participatory workshop: "There’s something in the air"](https://ecas.org/publication/participatory-workshop-theres-something-in-the-air/) - Citizens of Brussels are invited to join the “There’s something in the Air” workshop on 27 April at 19.00h in BeCentral (Cantersteen 10)! As part of the Brussels for Clean Air campaign, JEF Brussels and the European Citizens Action Service are organising this participative democracy event. It is the occasion not only to present the most cited problems in Brussels - [Winning Concept of 2021 Citizenship Innovation Awards published](https://ecas.org/publication/winning-concept-of-2021-citizenship-innovation-awards-published/) - "Measuring and Evaluating the QUALity of Teacher Training in Citizenship Education" is the title of Antonella Nuzzaci's submission to the 2021 Citizenship Innovation Awards. The price was granted during the 2022 State of the Union Citizenship Conference. You can re-watch the ceremony here. You can read the whole concept below and here. [embeddoc url="https://ecas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Measuring-and-Evaluating-the-QUALity-of-Teacher-Training-in-Citizenship-Education.pdf"] - [Student training on civic tech tools in Ljubljana](https://ecas.org/publication/student-training-on-civic-tech-tools-in-ljubljana/) - Between 2019 and 2022, NEXUS explored the relationship between digitally enabled participatory tools and democracy to build upon the existing literature focusing on empowering students (especially migrants) to exercise their rights, uphold human values and contribute to society. Seven project partners from different European countries came together to further innovate the civic educational process with - [Brussels for Clean Air | “I would like to be able to go for a walk or do sport without wondering if it could be harmful to me.”](https://ecas.org/publication/brussels-for-clean-air-pauline-dessard/) - The Brussels for Clean Air participatory democracy campaign entered its second phase a month ago. The crowdsourcing platform already collected 47 solutions in Brussels. Since the beginning of the campaign, citizen ambassadors have mobilised to spread the word about the initiative. Pauline Dessard is a citizen ambassador for the campaign. In this context, we asked - [Brussels for Clean Air | « J’aimerai pouvoir me promener ou faire du sport sans me demander si cela pourrait être nocif pour moi. »](https://ecas.org/publication/interview-pauline-dessard-brussels-for-clean-air/) - La campagne de démocratie participative "Brussels for Clean Air" est entrée dans sa deuxième phase il y a un mois. La plateforme de crowdsourcing a déjà recueilli 47 solutions à Bruxelles. Depuis le début de la campagne, des citoyens ambassadeurs se sont mobilisés pour faire connaître l'initiative. Pauline Dessard est une citoyenne ambassadrice de la - [COVID-19 and Brexit make Social Security, Residence and Entry rights remain key concerns in the 2021 Your Europe Advice Annual Trends Report](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-annual-trends-report-2021/) - In 2021, the COVID-19 crisis had an enormous impact on the movement of citizens and businesses within the EU. A variety of restrictions on free movement of persons were introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as the closure of borders, border checks, lockdowns, quarantines, etc. These measures had the consequence of either preventing or hindering - [Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe - Digital Transformation Cluster Report](https://ecas.org/publication/civil-society-convention/) - The Civil Society Convention’s Digital Transformation Cluster has worked on developing proposals that will feed into the EU’s priority of “A Europe fit for the digital age”. The ambition of this priority is to strengthen the EU’s digital sovereignty and set standards on data, technology, and infrastructure - with a clear focus on education, ethics, - [Civil society action countering populist movements](https://ecas.org/publication/civil-society-action-to-counter-populist-movements/) - By Hendrik Nahr This blog post is based on a working paper, published in the scope of DEMOS – a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Populist movements gained worldwide traction over the last decades. While populist democracies are based on a single cleavage, adversarial politics and majoritarianism, liberal - [Press Release: Covid-19 and Brexit make Social Security, Residence and Entry rights key concerns in the 2020 Annual Trends Report](https://ecas.org/publication/yea-annual-trends-2020/) - In 2020, the COVID-19 crisis and Brexit had an enormous impact on the movement of citizens and businesses within the EU. Citizens faced obstacles imposed not only by national administrations, but also by private entities. The enquiries received by ECAS’s legal experts on Your Europe Advice (YEA) during 2020 reflected the uncertainty provoked by these - [No ivory towers - DEMOS researchers team up with citizens](https://ecas.org/publication/no-ivory-towers-demos-researchers-team-up-with-citizens/) - Research in social sciences should eventually contribute to societal progress. In the DEMOS (Democratic Efficacy and the Varieties of Populism in Europe) Horizon 2020 EU funded project we want to ensure that researchers do not find themselves in ‘ivory towers’, but rather on marketplace of ideas in order to establish a link between academic findings and citizens’ lives. DEMOS - [Consultation on digital transformation now open!](https://ecas.org/publication/consultation-on-digital-transformation-now-open/) - Everyone is talking about the Future of Europe. We are working on it! The consultation on digital transformation of the Civil Society Convention for the Future of Europe has just been opened to all Civil Society Organisations in Europe. Are you representing a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and do you want to share your views - [ECAS' Takeaways on the 'State of the Union'](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-takeaways-on-the-state-of-the-union/) - Today, the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen shared her view on the State of the Union in 2021. ECAS followed the speech closely through the lenses of EU Rights and European Democracy. EU Rights - enhanced legal certainty for mobile EU citizens Freedom of movement for workers has been one of - [Report: Digital Democracy Day 2021](https://ecas.org/publication/report-digital-democracy-day-2021/) - On 23 November 2021, civil society representatives and policy makers convened to discuss how participatory democracy can help to improve the environment. This event also introduced the DigiDEM project and the crowdsourcing platform that will enable the collection of citizens' proposals on air quality in January 2022. To learn more about the crowdsourcing platform and - [ECAS launches local campaign to improve Air Quality in Brussels!](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-launches-local-campaign-to-improve-air-quality-in-brussels/) - Today, ECAS kicks off the “Brussels for CLEAN AIR / Bruxelles pour un AIR PUR / Brussel voor SCHONE LUCHT” campaign. The initiative is the local implementation of the “DigiDEM” project. We invite the citizens of Brussels to join our Crowdsourcing platform and to raise their voice on air quality. They can become part of - [Comig up: State of the Union Citizens’ Rights 2022](https://ecas.org/publication/comig-up-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2022/) - On March 29, ECAS organises the 2022 version of the State of the Union Citizens’ Rights conference. During the online event, high level speakers and experts will discuss the "Reinvention EU Citizenship post COVID-19". The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of EU citizens’ lives: the ways we travel, the ways we work, the ways we meet - [Participative democracy: Brussels residents can improve air quality by contributing to an online platform. ](https://ecas.org/publication/participative-democracy-brussels-residents-can-improve-air/) - Throughout the year, Brussels residents have the opportunity to participate in the "Brussels for Clean Air" campaign. The aim of the campaign is to collect their opinions and ideas on how to improve air quality in Brussels. The "Brussels for Clean Air" project, funded by the European Commission, offers citizens the opportunity to participate in - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - June](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-3/) - In April and June 2016 the European Court of Justice delivered two opinions with implications for the freedom of movement area. The first is opinion by Advocate General Henrik Saugmandsgaard Øe concerning a dispute relating to unpaid invoices between a company established in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium and a company established in Italy. The - [ECAS welcomes the proposal for a European Agency for Citizenship Education](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-welcomes-the-proposal-for-a-european-agency-for-citizenship-education/) - A New Push for European Democracy can be successful only if the “pushers” have the capacities, abilities and capabilities to push in the right direction – towards strengthening Democracy. This is why citizenship education is so important, in its entirety and with a special emphasis on its European dimension. ECAS believes in an inclusive, transparent, - [Under a Double Lockdown: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mobile EU Citizens’ Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/under-a-double-lockdown/) - At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe, freedom of movement quickly collapsed under the pressure of unilateral border closings. Mobile Europeans suddenly found themselves locked down and separated not only from their host communities, but also from their families and friends in their countries of origin. ECAS, with the support of EPIM, decided - [Key Messages from the 'State of the Union Citizens' Rights 2021: Moving Together Beyond the Pandemic' Conference](https://ecas.org/publication/key-messages-from-the-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2021-moving-together-beyond-the-pandemic-conference/) - On 21-22 January 2021, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) held the third edition of its “State of the Union Citizens’ Rights” event, an annual conference aimed at identifying challenges faced by EU citizens to their right to free movement and the solutions to overcoming them. The conference was organised in the framework of the - [A new dimension of European policy co-creation](https://ecas.org/publication/a-new-dimension-of-european-policy-co-creation/) - By Elisa Lironi and Hendrik Nahr An ideal democracy is where everyone can get together to take joint decisions on rules that apply to all. However, in modern representative democracies, the privilege to formulate public policies is usually granted to elected officials and a few stakeholders. The involvement of average citizens in this process is generally - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - October](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-october/) - In the first week of October, the European Court of Justice delivered an important judgement on the conditions under which an EU citizen may be deprived from their right to vote in the European elections. In addition, Advocate General Cruz Villalón issued two opinions which may have important implications for the right to free movement - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - March 2019](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-march-2019/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgments affecting EU citizenship and the area of freedom, security and justice: EU law does not preclude the loss of the nationality of a Member State and, consequently, the loss of citizenship of the EU, where the genuine link between the person - [ECAS June News Flash - State of the Union Citizens Rights 2019 | Civil Society Days 2019 | Empowering a New Generation of EU Citizens | Populism Beyond the Popular Narratives | #myEUstory](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-june-news-flash-state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-2019-civil-society-days-2019-empowering-a-new-generation-of-eu-citizens-populism-beyond-the-popular-narratives-myeustory/) - Welcome to the June edition of the ECAS Newsletter! Below is a preview of some of the articles included in this issue: Read the full newsletter here! We wish you a happy and insightful reading. For any questions or comments, get in touch with us. - [Recommendations for a successful and effective Conference on the Future of Europe](https://ecas.org/publication/recommendations-for-a-successful-and-effective-conference-on-the-future-of-europe/) - The Conference on the Future of Europe, taken up by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presents an important opportunity to strengthen the democratic quality of the discussion on the future of Europe and a possibility to unlock useful reforms of the EU. However, the success of the Conference will strictly depend - [ECAS welcomes new Citizens' Rights Training Coordinator](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-welcomes-new-citizens-rights-training-coordinator/) - Following a period of reflection in order to re-evaluate and improve its training services, ECAS is excited to welcome its new Citizens' Rights Training Coordinator, David Garcia-Falaux. With extensive knowledge and experience in the field, David will contribute to delivering ECAS's mission of empowering citizens through different innovative methods. Before joining our team in November - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - April](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-april/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings regarding the Freedom of Movement: April 2nd 2020: Freedom of Movement of Persons On April 2nd 2020, the European Court of Justice ruled that reimbursement of school transportation costs should not be based on the condition that the recipient lives in - [The EU Rights Clinic most recent complaint to the European Commission features in The Local France](https://ecas.org/publication/the-eu-rights-clinic-most-recent-complaint-thelocal-france/) - The EU Rights Clinic has complained against France for its breach of EU law in issuing residence documents to EU citizens, and has featured in an article by The Local France entitled "Brexit: Worried Brits lodge EU complaint against France for failure to hand out residency permits". More specifically the complaint contains details of over - [State of the Union Citizens' Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019 - Event report](https://ecas.org/publication/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019-event-report/) - On 25 September 2018, ECAS held its first annual State of the Union Citizens' Rights conference: towards the European Elections 2019! The first panel focused on current challenges faced by EU citizens with regard to their rights’ enforcement, and the second panel featured grassroots actions of civic campaigning and engagement. The event also hosted the - [ECAS' workshops feature at the We Are Europe Academy](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-workshops-feature-at-the-we-are-europe-academy/) - Last weekend, the 2018 edition of the We Are Europe Academy, a training event for civil society activists was held from 9-11 November jointly by ECAS and the Union of European Federalists in Brussels, in the framework of the We are Europe project. This training for CSOs aimed at developing practical skills on political communication, campaigning, - [Your Europe Advice Annual Training Seminar 2018](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-annual-training-seminar-2019/) - This year the YEA Training Seminar took place on 15 and 16 November in Brussels at the European Commission. Around 60 legal experts from all EU Member States attended the training, during which they were informed of the latest developments in EU law, as well as current challenges. Topics mainly concerned free movement rights EU citizens - [ECAS' Executive Director at the 2018 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-executive-director-at-the-2018-annual-colloquium-on-fundamental-rights/) - On 26 and 27 November, ECAS’ Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova took part in the 2018 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights: Democracy in the EU. The event brought together national and EU policymakers, international organisations, civil society organisations, media and social media representatives, academics and legal professionals to identify ways to foster and renew democratic engagement at a time - [#EUTakeTheInitiative | Join us in Vienna, Austria on 13 December 2018 for a full-day conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform](https://ecas.org/publication/eutaketheinitiative-join-us-in-vienna-austria-on-13-december-2018-for-a-full-day-conference-on-the-european-citizens-initiative-and-its-reform/) - The #EUTakeTheInitiative Roadshow is heading to Vienna for its final event of the year! On this occasion we are organising a full-day interactive conference on the European Citizens’ Initiative and its reform. We hope to meet many of you interested in participatory democracy at the Haus der Europäischen Union on 13 December, 9:30-18:00. We are - [Webinar on helping EU mobile citizens exercise their political rights](https://ecas.org/publication/webinar-on-helping-eu-mobile-citizens-exercise-their-political-rights/) - More than a third of Brussels' inhabitants are foreigners with voting rights in their local elections. But despite many of them working within the EU institutions at the heart of the Continent's democracy, Belgium has close to the lowest voter participation rate among EU citizens in Europe. Why? Which barriers do EU mobile citizens face - [Workshop on Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/workshop-on-fostering-awareness-inclusion-and-recognition-of-eu-mobile-citizens-political-rights/) - The political participation of mobile EU citizens remains limited due to obstacles they face and low political awareness. Their involvement could, however, be enhanced if the obstacles were tackled and concrete facilitating measures were introduced. That was the conclusion of the workshop Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights, which took place - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - from December 2018 to February 2019](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-from-december-2018-to-february-2019/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two ECJ judgments affecting access to family benefits by EU mobile citizens, freedom, security and justice. Under EU law, it is not necessary that a person is employed in a Member State at time of claim in order to be entitled to family benefits in respect - [Forgotten Societies and the Rise of Populism Across Europe](https://ecas.org/publication/forgotten-societies-and-the-rise-of-populism-across-europe/) - Study on “Societies Outside Metropolises: The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Facing Populism”, commissioned by the European Economic and Social Committee and executed by ECAS, looks to better understand the factors influencing citizens' choices in favour of populism in non-metropolitan areas and if CSOs are equipped to counter it. Currently, populism in Europe is at its - [Digital Tools, E-voting and a Changing Democracy: Report from Digital Democracy Day 2019](https://ecas.org/publication/digital-tools-e-voting-and-a-changing-democracy-report-from-digital-democracy-day-2019/) - Digital tools are changing democracy as we know it, bringing along new opportunities, advances and challenges. Online platforms and e-voting practices have given access to the political world where it was lacking before, allowing citizens to be better informed and involved. It was this reality that was reflected at ECAS’ Digital Democracy Day 2019: Harnessing - [ECAS' Executive Director Features in Interview by ECI Team](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-executive-director-features-in-interview-by-eci-team/) - During an interview with the European Citizens' Initiative team, our Executive Director Assya Kavrakova described ECAS' role in helping to develop the ECI into an effective instrument of participatory democracy. Ms. Kavrakova described the ECI as "the first transnational participatory democracy mechanism, not only in Europe, but worldwide", adding however that its potential for agenda-setting - [EU Rights Clinic Petition Urges the European Parliament to Ensure Stronger Protection of Citizens’ Rights After Brexit](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-clinic-petition-urges-the-european-parliament-to-ensure-stronger-protection-of-citizens-rights-after-brexit/) - This week, the EU Rights Clinic, ECAS and 80 signatories submitted a petition calling the European Parliament to immediate action, to address specific gaps and omissions still featuring in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, concerning the protection of some categories of citizens’ rights after the Brexit date. Given the lack of progress in handling citizens rights’ protection, - [Procedural Steps and Drafting an Initiative Were Key Issues Covered in the First Webinar on the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)](https://ecas.org/publication/eci-forum-webinar/) - The ECI is the the first transnational participatory democracy tool for citizens, not only in Europe, but worldwide. To help make the process of organising an ECI as accessible and simple for citizens, last month ECAS hosted the first of a series of webinars, which are being held in the framework of the ECI Forum - [Save the Date for our Conference "State of the Union Citizens' Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019" on 25 September](https://ecas.org/publication/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019-on-25-september/) - Freedom of movement is one of the most cherished fundamental freedoms of the European Union. Together with the right to political participation they constitute the main building blocks of the EU Citizenship. According to the Spring 2018 Eurobarometer, the majority of Europeans are optimistic about the future of the EU. Yet, as ECAS’ research has proved, free - [YouVoteEU: the New Platform for the 2019 European Elections and Beyond!](https://ecas.org/publication/the-new-platform-for-the-2019-european-elections-and-beyond/) - The next European elections are just around the corner. As a citizen, are you already wondering how to make sure that the issues you care about are represented in the election campaign? As a civil society organisation, are you wondering how to reach out to citizens and and get them on your side while trying - [EU Rights Clinic Petition for More Citizens' Rights Protection Features in Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/publication/petition-for-more-citizens-rights-protection-after-brexit/) - On 9 July the EU Rights Clinic, ECAS and 80 signatories submitted a petition calling the European Parliament to immediate action, to address specific gaps and omissions still featuring in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, concerning the protection of some categories of citizens’ rights after the Brexit date. The Petition has featured in articles published on - [Our Director's Participation at "Post-Brexit Europe: What's Next for Youth Mobility?"](https://ecas.org/publication/youth-mobility-post-brexit/) - Last month, the event entitled Post-Brexit Europe: What's Next for Youth Mobility? hosted by Volonteurope and Volunteering Matters gathered experts, campaigners and volunteers actively working to ensure that the rights of young people are protected after Brexit negotiations. As a speaker on the panel entitled "Campaigns information and advocacy for the future of mobility", our Director Assya - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - July 2018](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-july-2018/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features three ECJ judgments affecting freedom of residence for EU citizens and their spouses of the same sex, change of gender and retirement pension, and entry and residence facilitation for non-EU partners. The term ‘spouse’ within the meaning of the provisions of EU law on freedom of residence - [ECAS launches its own crowdsourcing platform!](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-launches-its-own-crowdsourcing-platform/) - We at ECAS are proud to announce that we have launched our very own crowdsourcing platform! Its activities will be aimed at crowdsourcing citizens' opinions on a number of different subjects by issuing questionnaires. The first questionnaire is launched under the framework of FAIR EU, a project aimed at fostering the successful inclusion of mobile EU - [Once again Sweden fails to comply with EU regulations, says EU Rights Clinic.](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-clinic-files-complaint-to-eu-against-sweden/) - The EU Rights Clinic has again referred Sweden to the European Commission for its failure to abide by EU law. In a second complaint to be filed against Sweden in under a year, this case relates to the failure of the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) to issue residence cards to non-EU family members of EU - [Press Release - European Elections 2019: Your Vote Matters and This is How it Will!](https://ecas.org/publication/european-elections-2019-your-vote-matters-and-this-is-how-it-will/) - A multi-lingual platform for democratic participation in the 2019 elections, co-funded by the European Commission, is launched at ECAS’ State of the Union Citizens’ Rights conference. Tomorrow, Tuesday 25th of September, at ECAS’ State of the Union Citizens’ Rights event 2018, the web portal www.yourvotematters.eu will be officially presented to the public. This new and innovative - ["State of the Union Citizens' Rights: Towards the European Elections 2019!" - ECAS' Annual Conference, and Launch of the YouVoteEU platform! #SOTUECAS18](https://ecas.org/publication/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-towards-the-european-elections-2019/) - The conference explored current challenges to freedom of movement and civic engagement, and analysed grassroots actions of civic campaigning and engagement, in view of the 2019 European Elections. On Tuesday 25 September, ECAS held the first edition of its "State of the Union Citizens' Rights", an annual conference aimed at identifying challenges faced by EU - ["The situation of citizens’ rights in Europe has deteriorated since 2015" - said our Director in recent interview](https://ecas.org/publication/the-situation-of-citizens-rights-in-europe-has-deteriorated/) - Executive Director at ECAS, Assya Kavrakova was interviewed by Europe Street News on the state of EU citizenship, current threats to freedom of movement, and the relationship between EU citizenship and free movement. Ms. Kavrakova stated "Free movement, or the right to move, study, work and set up business in other EU countries, is a core - [EU Rights Clinic challenges France’s systematic failure to comply with EU residence formalities](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-clinic-challenges-frances-systematic-failure-to-comply-with-eu-residence-formalities/) - In a complaint submitted this week to the European Commission, the EU Rights Clinic has challenged France’s breach of EU law in its duty to issue residence documents to EU citizens. The complaint points to the systematic failure of French municipal authorities to issue residence documentation, or cartes de séjour, to EU citizens. The complaint - [Citizens Panel Forms First Online Public Consultation](https://ecas.org/publication/citizens-panel-forms-first-online-public-consultation/) - For the first time in EU history a group of European citizens from 27 Member States were invited to form the European Citizens' Panel on the Future of Europe. The purpose of this panel was to co-create an online public consultation containing a total of 12 questions, drafted by the citizens themselves. The questions of - [ECAS Signs Letter to EU Leaders to Encourage EU Mobile Citizens to Vote in Local Elections](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-signs-letter-to-eu-leaders-to-encourage-eu-mobile/) - Yesterday, ECAS and the Migration Policy Group (MPG) have jointly submitted a letter to EU leaders Presidents Jean-Claude Juncker, Luca Jahier, Antonio Tajani, and Karl-Heinz Lambertz encouraging them to help raise awareness of the municipal elections in October 2018, and encourage EU citizens to register to vote. The letter underlines the impact that additional support from - [ECI Watch May](https://ecas.org/publication/eci-watch-may/) - Read the ECI Watch here. BREAKING NEWS! - Launch of the new European Citizens' Initiative Forum ! PAST EVENTS - ECI DAY 2018: working together - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - May 2018](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-may-2018/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features two ECJ judgments and an opinion affecting requests for family reunification, enhanced protection against expulsion of EU citizens and the right to entry and residence of non-EU partners when an EU citizen returns to his home Member State. Requests for family reunification must be - [Civil Society Days 2018: More E-Tools To Increase Civic Engagement](https://ecas.org/publication/civil-society-days-2018-more-e-tools-to-increase-civic-engagement/) - On 24 and 25 May the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted Civil Society Days 2018: Citizenship, Democracy and Culture in Digitalised Europe, which saw the participation of over 220 civil society organisations and citizens from across Europe. ECAS and Volonteurope hosted one of the six workshops of the event, which was entitled The Digital Democracy Battle: Defend your tool - [ECAS' Brexit Takeaways Continue to Feature in Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-brexit-takeaways-keep-featuring-in-media-outlets/) - Last week, ECAS featured in the UK Business Insider, quoting information on free movement rights extracted from our 2017 study '5 Takeaways on Brexit'. The infographic reporting citizens' rights in EU relations (designed by Margherita Gagliardi), originally featured in Europe Street News (full list below). Last year, ECAS joined efforts with three other partners – New - [FAIREU Project: Open Call for Legal Experts](https://ecas.org/publication/faireu-project-open-call-for-legal-experts/) - As part of the FAIR EU project, the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is currently looking for 6 legal experts in the field of free movement and political rights based in the following countries: Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Luxembourg. Their main task will be to organize focus groups (one per country) in order - [Open Letter: European Parliament, Make the ECI work!](https://ecas.org/publication/open-letter-european-parliament-make-the-eci-work/) - On 20 June, the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) of the European Parliament will cast a vote of crucial importance for the future of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). With this open letter signed by ECAS and 64 co-signatories (15 ECIs & 50 CSOs), civil society organisations and former ECI organisers call upon the European Parliament - [A New Communication on the Citizenship Directive is Needed](https://ecas.org/publication/a-new-communication-on-the-citizenship-directive-is-needed/) - Following the ECJ case law of 5 June 2018 ruling the recognition of residence rights for same-sex spouses living in the EU, ECAS encourages the Commission to take this case law into account and promptly issue an up-to-date Communication on the Citizenship directive. Last week the European Court of Justice recognized freedom of residence for - [European Civic Days 2018: Citizenship – Participation – Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!](https://ecas.org/publication/european-civic-days-2018-citizenship-participation-policies-building-europe-from-grassroots-up/) - On 29 and 30 May the annual European Civic Days conference entitled "Citizenship – Participation – Policies: Building Europe from Grassroots Up!" took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event was hosted by the Citizen Participation Forum, under the patronage of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and it was hosted by ECAS, the European Civic Forum - [UK and EU Citizens Still Struggle to Obtain Residence Documents in France](https://ecas.org/publication/uk-and-eu-citizens-still-struggle-to-obtain-residence-documents-in-france/) - Acquiring temporary and permanent residence documents is still a burdensome matter, and a serious obstacle to free movement rights, especially for UK nationals. In France there is no requirement for EU nationals to register for a residence card. French law however, rules that they can apply for a residence document if they wish and EU - [AFCO Committee Approves Proposed ECI Reform](https://ecas.org/publication/afco-committee-approves-proposed-eci-reform/) - Yesterday the Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) Committee approved the proposal for the revision of the ECI, but rejected an important amendment on the European Parliament’s commitment in the follow-up process. This caused disappointed reactions from a network of 71 civil society organizations, including ECAS, who had signed and circulated a joint open letter to the European - [ECAS Welcomes Council’s Approval to Revise Current Social Security Systems](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-welcomes-councils-approval-to-revise-current-social-security-systems/) - ECAS is pleased that the Council of the EU has confirmed its general approach on the coordination of current social security systems. This new coordination will aim at revising regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 in order to harmonize social security systems in EU Member States. ECAS especially welcomes the commitment to ensure legal clarity for economically - [Brussels Elections Countdown: All EU Mobile Citizens Need to Know](https://ecas.org/publication/brussels-elections-countdown-eu-mobile-citizens-must/) - With only one month left to register to vote in the Brussels local elections, we would like to take the opportunity to remind all EU mobile citizens residing in how and why they should vote in October 2018. Under the FAIREU project (an EU project coordinated by ECAS in partnership with MPG, EUI, ALDA, and - [Brexit, EU Citizens and the Settlement Scheme: What We Know So Far](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-eu-citizens-and-the-settlement-scheme-what-we-know-so-far/) - Today the Brexit Steering Group of the European Parliament responded to the statement of intent released by the British Government on 21 June, which outlined a proposed settlement scheme for EU citizens and their family members living in the UK. The aim of the statement of intent was to indicate the conditions for eligibility for EU - [ECAS Backs Call for Transnational Lists for European Parliament Elections](https://ecas.org/publication/transnational-lists-petition/) - In partnership with WeMove.EU, European Alternatives and The Good Lobby, ECAS has called for transnational lists for the European Parliament elections in 2019. The petition launched on 5 February by WeMove.EU and backed by ECAS calls for “real representation” of EU citizens in the European Parliament by making some MEPs accountable to all Europeans, rather - [You Vote EU: Increasing Voter Turnout by Connecting Citizens to EU Policy](https://ecas.org/publication/vote-eu-increasing-voter-turnout-connecting-citizens-eu-policy/) - Last week ECAS hosted the launch of You Vote EU, a project aimed at stimulating citizens political participation in the 2019 European Parliament elections by increasing understanding of current and future EU policies. You Vote EU is coordinated by Italian organisation Riparte il Futuro, in partnership with VoteWatch Europe (Belgium), Vouliwatch (Greece) and Collegium Civitas (Poland). The project was triggered with a view - [ECAS Activities of 2017: A Review](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-activities-2017-review/) - The harder the challenge, the stronger the outcome Over the past year political turmoil has posed a great deal of uncertainty not to mention significant challenges for the issue of citizens’ rights throughout Europe. Despite these crisis-driven times the length of our 2017 activities proves ECAS is not merely able, but extremely well-equipped to meet - [ECAS is Among the Finalists For Advocate Europe Challenge!](https://ecas.org/publication/trilogues-project-advocate-europe-shortlist/) - We are delighted to announce that out of 472 proposals our project "Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let’s build a more Democratic EU!" submitted by ECAS and VoteWatch Europe has been shortlisted for the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp! ECAS and 30 other shortlisted candidates have been invited to present our ideas at the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp in Kiev, - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - March 2018](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-march-2018/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features three ECJ rulings affecting the right of national courts to disregard social security certificates obtained fraudulently, the compensation for delays in the case of connecting flights and public access to information concerning ongoing co-decision procedures submitted to trilogues. National courts may, in cases of - [Obstacles to Entry and Residence Rights Still a Burden to EU Mobile Citizens](https://ecas.org/publication/obstacles-to-entry-and-residence-rights-still-a-burden-to-eu-mobile-citizens/) - ECAS’ latest report entitled “Freedom of Movement in the EU: A Look Behind The Curtain” looks at the difficulties EU citizens and their family members face with regard to entry and residence rights in another EU country. Freedom of movement and residence for EU nationals and non-EU family members has been a highly cherished accomplishment - [Press Release: Pension, entry and residence rights are key concerns in the 2017 Annual Trends Report](https://ecas.org/publication/pension-entry-and-residence-rights-are-among-the-key-concerns-in-the-2017-your-europe-advice-annual-trends-report/) - Topics related to social security rights continued to be the most problematic for EU citizens. Enquiries related to residence rights increased by 3.4% compared to 2016. These largely concerned non-EU family members who are still experiencing difficulties when moving to another Member State. These topics are summarized in ECAS’ recently published Annual Trends Report, which - [ECAS Advocates for More Transparency of EU Trilogues at the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp](https://ecas.org/publication/advocate-europe-challenge-camp/) - ECAS presented a project idea aimed at making EU Trilogues more transparent and accessible to citizens by encouraging civic engagement at the Idea Challenge Camp, held in Kyiv. Having been shortlisted out of 472 applicants, ECAS participated at the Advocate Europe Challenge Camp in Kyiv from 25 to 29 April together with 30 other civil - [Charles Goerens: We Should Never Say No to Associate Citizenship](https://ecas.org/publication/charles-goerens-brexit-interview/) - The Brexit negotiations to date have focused on the rights of ‘mobile’ EU and UK nationals - that is, EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU27 - whilst the rights of 'static' UK nationals, those who have not exercised their right to free movement, have been left for the second stage - [Obstacles to Political Rights of EU Citizens - Survey Report](https://ecas.org/publication/obstacles-political-rights-eu-citizens/) - What are the main drivers and obstacles to the political participation of mobile EU citizens in their host country and how could participation levels be improved? As part of the One-stop-shops for the political participation of mobile EU citizens project, the European Citizen Action Service and the Migration Policy Group conducted a survey to gather the key - [ECAS Webinar on VAT](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-webinar-european-vat/) - On 7 December, ECAS hosted a webinar with Tim Hayes, Policy Officer at the European Commission's Directorate General for Taxation and Customs Union to train Your Europe Advice's legal experts on the latest cross-border VAT issues and the basic VAT rules that apply under EU law. The webinar started with a presentation covering different topics - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - January 2018](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-january-2018/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features one ECJ opinion and one ruling affecting, respectively, the freedom of residence of EU citizens and their spouses of the same sex and the status of ‘self-employed person’ for the purposes of the free movement directive. An EU citizen who, after more than one year, has ceased - [Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let’s build a more Democratic EU!](https://ecas.org/publication/trilogues-project-advocate-europe/) - On 12 January 2017, ECAS and VoteWatch Europe submitted the project idea "Citizens’ Call for Transparent Trilogues: Let’s build a more Democratic EU!" to Advocate Europe, an idea challenge that calls on civil society actors to propose unconventional and transnational project proposals aimed at strengthening democracy in EU and responding to present challenges emerging at EU level. Our - [EU Rights Clinic Calls for Further Protections of Citizens' Rights in Phase 2 of Brexit Negotiations](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-clinic-brexit-letter-tusk/) - The EU Rights Clinic has submitted a letter to President of the European Council Donald Tusk calling on the Council to instruct the European Commission to continue negotiations on citizens’ rights in the second phase of Brexit negotiations and to address those matters related to citizens’ rights that were not addressed in the interim deal that concluded - [FAIR EU: A Citizen-Centric Approach to Political Participation and Free Movement Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/fair-eu-project-launch/) - On 2 February 2018 ECAS launched FAIR EU (Fostering Awareness, Inclusion and Recognition of EU Mobile Citizens’ Political Rights), a project aimed at the successful inclusion of EU mobile citizens in their host EU country’s civic and political life. The project aims at developing a holistic approach to identify and tackle obstacles to free movement rights and - [Recommendations on Learning Mobility: Insights from the Digital Dashboard](https://ecas.org/publication/learning-mobility-recommendations/) - As part of the DEEP-linking Youth project, ECAS has developed a set of recommendations for decision-makers on how to improve learning mobility programmes for young people in Europe. The recommendations, based on the challenges to learning mobility that were identified through monitoring of our Digital Dashboard, research conducted by the Erasmus Student Network, 'Boot Camps' with young - [Video: Life Beyond Brexit Webinar](https://ecas.org/publication/life-beyond-brexit-video/) - On 7 November 2017, ECAS' Executive Director, Assya Kavrakova, took part in the webinar 'Life Beyond Brexit: How Are Negotiations Faring Over Rights for UK Citizens in the European Union?' living in the EU27, discussing the priorities and concerns of UK citizens based on ECAS' survey 'What Do Citizens Want From Brexit?' The webinar, organised by Migration - [Press Release: EU Rights Clinic Refers Sweden to Commission for Breach of Free Movement Rules](https://ecas.org/publication/free-movement-sweden-complaint/) - Today, the EU Rights Clinic has submitted a complaint to the European Commission against Sweden for the refusal of the Swedish tax authorities to issue a personal identification number – ‘personnummer’ – to EU citizens and their family members living in Sweden, preventing them from engaging in everyday life in Sweden. A personnummer is essential - [Event Report - Digital Democracy Day 2017](https://ecas.org/publication/event-report-digital-democracy-day-2017/) - On 17 October 2017, ECAS held its third annual Digital Democracy Day - Rejuvenating Europe: Opportunities in the Digital World – focusing on identifying the most common challenges to youth participation in European policy-making and proposing several concrete solutions to them by using digital tools. The event represented the final conference of the Erasmus+ project Deep-linking - [Network in Focus 2017: Key Concerns of Citizens Affected By Brexit](https://ecas.org/publication/network-focus-key-concerns-brexit/) - ECAS has featured in the European Network of Ombudsmen's annual 'Network in Focus' magazine, published on 9 November 2017. Following the presentation of the results of the survey 'What Do Citizens Want From Brexit?' at the European Network of Ombudsmen conference in June 2017 by ECAS' Executive Director Assya Kavrakova (see video below), ECAS provided an - [Brexit & the European Arrest Warrant: How Will Change Affect the Interests of Citizens?](https://ecas.org/publication/european-arrest-warrant-brexit/) - The UK's decision to leave the EU on 23 June 2016 and the triggering of Article 50 TEU to start the process on 29 March 2017 were decisive moments in British and European history, with great consequences for the relationship and coordination between the two across many policy areas. The 'Area of Freedom, Security and - [EU Public Consultations in the Digital Age: Enhancing the Role of the EESC and Civil Society Organisations](https://ecas.org/publication/consultations-eu-study/) - EU online public consultations are used as a tool to foster transparency at EU level and offer an opportunity to both civil society and European citizens to participate in the EU decision-making process. They are generally run by the European Commission, which tries to legitimate its actions and reduce the democratic deficit by taking into - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - November 2017](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-november/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features two ECJ opinions and one ruling affecting the E 101 social security certificate for posted workers, the jurisdictional consumer privilege and the derived right of residence of non-EU national family members of EU citizens. According to Advocate General Saugmandsgaard Øe, a national court may, - [Youth Mobility and Erasmus+ – Live Chat with Lloyd Huitson](https://ecas.org/publication/erasmus-live-chat/) - On 27 November, as part of the DEEP-linking Youth project, ECAS and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) held a live chat with Lloyd Huitson, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Education and Culture. The Facebook chat was organised in order to promote more interactions between young citizens and policy-makers, allowing participants to put questions about youth - [EU Citizens’ Rights and EU Citizenship Loss under the Brexit Divorce Deal](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-divorce-citizens-rights/) - On Friday 8 December, negotiators for the UK and EU released a joint report on stage one of the Brexit negotiations, detailing, among other things, the post-Brexit prospects for EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU. Friday’s terms go several steps further than a UK government paper issued last June on - [EU Rights Clinic Calls For Rights of Family Members and Carers of EU Citizens to be Safeguarded Post-Brexit](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-clinic-brexit-rights/) - Today, as part of the EU Rights Clinic, ECAS has submitted letters to the European Commission's Taskforce on Article 50 and the European Parliament's Brexit Steering Group to express concerns about the protections granted to the rights of EU citizens and their family members and carers living in the UK following the recent agreement reached by the - [REFIT Platform Calls for New Communication on Citizenship Directive](https://ecas.org/publication/refit-opinion-citizenship-directive/) - The European Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) platform has called on the Commission to adopt a new Communication clarifying certain grey areas in Directive 2004/38/EC on residence rights in order to improve and harmonise the implementation of the Citizenship Directive at national level. On 23 November 2017, Members of the REFIT Platform adopted an opinion recommending the Commission issue - [EU Rights Clinic's Complaint Against Sweden Features in Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/publication/sweden-complaint-personnummer-media-outlets/) - On 14 November, The EU Rights Clinic submitted a complaint to the European Commission against Sweden for the refusal of the Swedish tax authorities to issue a personal identification number – ‘personnummer’ – to EU citizens and their family members living in Sweden, preventing them from engaging in everyday life in Sweden. The complaint has - ["One Issue That Could Break the Brexit Talks" - ECAS in The Atlantic](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-the-atlantic-brexit/) - ECAS appeared in The Atlantic on July 17, in an article on the issue of citizens' rights "looming" over the Brexit talks. Senior Manager, Programmes and Fundraising, Kenan Hadzimusic, told The Atlantic that a lack of clarity about how citizens' rights would be affected by Brexit was a cause for concern for UK and EU - [Youth Mobility and Erasmus+ - Live Chat with MEP Brando Benifei](https://ecas.org/publication/youth-mobility-live-chat/) - On 12 July, ECAS and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) held a live chat with Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the Youth Intergroup. The topic of the chat was youth mobility in the EU and the Erasmus+ Programme, and participants could post their questions on Facebook, either in advance or during the chat. The chat - [ECJ Rules EU-Canada PNR Agreement Incompatible with Fundamental Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/ecj-pnr-incompatible-fundamental-rights/) - The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on 26 July that the agreement between the EU and Canada on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data “may not be concluded in its current form” and the provisions of the agreement “do not meet requirements stemming from the fundamental rights of the European Union.” The - [Meet Our Digital Competition Winners](https://ecas.org/publication/digital-competition-winners/) - We are pleased to announce the winners of our DEEP-linking Youth digital competition, who will be invited to our 2017 Digital Democracy Day on October 17 to showcase their entries. There were many impressive entries, but there could only be six winners. We would, however, like to thank everyone who took part for engaging in the project - [Leaked UK Immigration Policy Strains Brexit Negotiations](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-immigration-policy-leak/) - Last week, following the end of the third round of Brexit talks, a UK government document was leaked to the Guardian, revealing UK plans to end free movement of people immediately after Brexit, institute a ‘Britain first’ immigration policy and reduce “the opportunity for workers to settle long-term in the UK”. The leaked document reiterated - [A 'Citizen Scenario' for the Future of Europe - ECAS Opinion in EU Observer](https://ecas.org/publication/citizen-scenario-future-europe/) - On 13 September, ECAS' response to President Juncker's State of the Union address featured in EU Observer, setting out the need for a 'citizen scenario' for the future of Europe. In his address, President Juncker outlined his own "scenario six", emphasising freedom, equality and the rule of law and speaking positively about strengthening European democracy, - [Reform Proposal Promises to Make ECI 'Fit for Purpose'](https://ecas.org/publication/eci-reform/) - Following a State of the Union address that placed democracy at the heart of the EU’s agenda, on 13 September 2017 the Commission published a promising reform proposal to improve the European Citizens Initiative (ECI). This decision was taken by First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who has stated that delivering ECI reform is an important priority - [EU Rights in the Spotlight – September 2017](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-spotlight-sept-2017/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features two rulings affecting the right of air crew members to bring disputes on employment contracts before the courts of the place where they habitually carry out their work and the right of airline passengers to obtain compensation in the event of a long delay - [Free Movement Activist Training Kicks Off in Warsaw](https://ecas.org/publication/act-free-movement-warsaw/) - On 18-20 September, the ACT for Free Movement training series kicked off in Warsaw, with 17 free movement activists from across Europe joining the European Alternatives, ECAS and Krytyka Polityczna for three days of intensive training on EU citizenship, free movement rights, rights’ enforcement and campaigning. Activists from universities, NGOs and the legal profession all - [Digital Democracy Could Engage Citizens in Europe - ECAS' Director in Europe's World](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-director-europes-world/) - On 2 October, Europe's World featured an article by ECAS' Director Assya Kavrakova on democracy in the digital age and the potential role digital technologies can play in enhancing citizen participation and youth engagement at EU level. In her contribution, she introduced a number of digital initiatives that have been employed at national level in EU Member States, - [Event Report - Beyond Fake News: A Workshop on Media Literacy and Fact Checking](https://ecas.org/publication/event-report-beyond-fake-news/) - On 26 September 2017, ECAS hosted a workshop by the European Association of Viewers' Interests (EAVI) on the fake news, media literacy and shifting media landscape. Paolo Celot, Secretary General of EAVI, opened the workshop by introducing the concepts of fake news and media literacy, and discussed the implications of fake news for the individual - [E-Participation Guidelines for Decision-Makers: Social Listening Through the Digital Dashboard](https://ecas.org/publication/eparticipation-guidelines/) - As part of the DEEP-linking Youth project, ECAS has developed a set of guidelines for decision-makers on how to use e-participation as an instrument to engage young people and stimulate their active participation in democratic life. The guidelines are based on the outcomes of the project, which involved examining different ways to reach out to - [YEA Annual Training Seminar 2017](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-seminar-2017/) - On 12 and 13 October, the Your Europe Advice annual training seminar, organised by ECAS in cooperation with DG Growth, took place in Brussels. The two-day seminar was preceded by a cocktail party held at ECAS’ premises on the evening of 11 October during which the YEA legal experts had the opportunity to discuss EU rights with two - [Interview: ECAS' Elisa Lironi on e-Democracy](https://ecas.org/publication/edemocracy-interview/) - An interview with ECAS' Digital Democracy Manager, Elisa Lironi, has featured in an article by EU-LOGOS Athena about e-democracy and the role of citizens' participation in the democratic process published on 2 May 2017. In the interview, she discusses the different approaches countries take towards e-democracy, measures that already exist at EU level, the impact of cyberattacks on - [Event Report: Brexit and Citizens' Rights: The Case of Gibraltar](https://ecas.org/publication/event-report-brexit-citizens-rights-case-gibraltar/) - As a special British overseas territory sharing a land border with an EU country, Gibraltar’s economy and people are expected to suffer significantly from Brexit, in spite of the fact that its population of 32,000 inhabitants voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU in the UK’s referendum. With 12,000 European citizens crossing the border from Spain - [Event Report - Free Movement of Persons in the EU: A Loved and Feared Reality](https://ecas.org/publication/event-report-free-movement-conference/) - In the 60 years since the concept of free movement of persons was first established in the Treaty of Rome, it has evolved to become the cornerstone of EU citizenship, granting EU citizens the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states. Today, despite the various challenges it faces, it - [Project Launch: ACT for Free Movement](https://ecas.org/publication/project-launch-act-free-movement/) - ECAS launched the ACT for Free Movement project on June 2, which will take action to strengthen the implementation of the EU Citizenship Directive and enhance EU citizens' free movement rights. The project aims to counter negative trends against the rights of mobile EU citizens, as identified at our conference in April, and build public awareness and political - [Call For Participants – Training for Free Movement Activists](https://ecas.org/publication/training-free-movement-activists/) - Our partners, the European Alternatives, have launched a call for participants to receive training to become activists for free movement rights. Across the EU, European citizens are facing increasing restrictions to their free movement rights, from personal attacks and deportations to bureaucratic obstacles to accessing their rights. As part of the project ACT for Free - [UK Opens Negotiations on EU Citizens’ Rights with “Fair and Reasonable Offer”](https://ecas.org/publication/uk-offer-eu-citizens/) - The UK announced its offer to EU citizens on their post-Brexit rights on June 26 in an attempt to bring “reassurance and certainty” to the more than 3 million EU nationals residing in the UK, although the UK government’s position paper reads more like an opening to the negotiations than a serious attempt to assuage - [EU Citizens in the UK – Some Afterthoughts on the UK Initial Offer](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-citizens-offer-thoughts/) - One week has gone by since the UK government set out its initial position on the status of EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit in a paper published on 26 June. Now that the dust from the reactions of the first few days has settled, this post catches the opportunity for some afterthoughts. It aims - [Michel Barnier: Citizens’ Rights Must Come First](https://ecas.org/publication/michel-barnier-eesc/) - Michel Barnier has restated the need for citizens’ rights to come first in the Brexit negotiations to “create a climate of trust”, adding that the financial settlement and Irish border are also at the top of the list of priorities. Speaking at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels today, Mr Barnier also - [Your Europe Advice - 2016 Single Market Scoreboard](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-single-market-scoreboard/) - The Your Europe Advice (YEA) legal advice service, which ECAS manages on behalf of the European Commission, has received high praise in the 2016 Single Market Scorecard for the timeliness and quality of replies, quality control, reporting back to the Commission and number of enquiries responded to. In 2016, the service continued to improve its - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - July 2017](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-july-2017/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features three rulings affecting the derived right of residence in the EU of non-EU nationals and the right of a non-EU citizen to access social security benefits in an EU Member State. A third-country national may, as the parent of a minor child who is - [Event Report - Workshop: New technologies and transition: What role for civil society in a future of e-democracy?](https://ecas.org/publication/event-report-future-edemocracy/) - At the 2017 Civil Society Days on 27 June, ECAS hosted a workshop exploring the potential of e-democracy to contribute to a more open and inclusive form of policy-making and the role that civil society can play in a future in which digitalisation enables more direct participation by citizens. The workshop featured the presentation of - [Estonia Brings Digital Focus to EU Presidency](https://ecas.org/publication/estonia-eu-presidency/) - Estonia took over the rotating Presidency of the European Council at the beginning of July, bringing digitalisation and technological progress to the EU’s agenda. The Estonian Presidency’s digital priorities will go beyond the Digital Single Market, which is still being negotiated. They will seek “to take advantage of the digital revolution to bring more benefits - [Your Europe Advice Legal Expert on BBC News](https://ecas.org/publication/yea-bbc-news/) - On 26 June, Your Europe Advice legal expert Dr Anthony Valcke appeared on BBC News to give an expert opinion on the UK's offer to EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit. On how the UK's offer compares to the EU's position on citizens' post-Brexit rights, Dr Valcke said: It's completely different. The UK is basically - [EU-UK relations: A Turkish model for post-Brexit](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-uk-turkish-model-post-brexit/) - On 16 March, our colleague Marta Pont was featured as a guest editor on VoxEurop on the impact of Brexit on citizens' rights. In her article, she summarises some of the findings of ECAS' recent study "5 Takeaways on Brexit: Outlining Possible Scenarios for a New UK-EU Relationship and their Impact on Citizens". She also points to the - [The Parliament Adopts its Report on e-Participation](https://ecas.org/publication/parliament-adopts-report-e-participation/) - During its plenary session in March, the European Parliament adopted its own initiative report on e-democracy in the European Union. The report, prepared by Spanish S&D MEP Ramón Jáuregui and approved by 459 votes to 53, with 47 abstentions, examines the opportunities that new technologies bring about to involve and engage more people in the - [ECAS’ Director Calls for Enhanced Digital Democracy in EU at EESC Debate](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-eesc-digital-democracy/) - On March 7, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, called for an enhanced digital democracy for the EU in the European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) ‘Towards a Sustainable Europe’ debate. In her intervention in the debate, on the digitalisation of society and the transition to a new economic model, Ms Kavrakova addressed the impact of digitalisation - [Event Report: Disability Rights in the UK Post-Brexit](https://ecas.org/publication/event-report-brexit-disability-rights-uk/) - What are the instruments and initiatives that the EU has in place to protect and promote the rights of disabled people? How might Brexit affect these rights and access to EU funding streams in support of the disabled? How can we ensure that disability rights are not taken away from citizens in the UK after - [Rome Declaration: EU Leaders Open Door to Multispeed Europe](https://ecas.org/publication/rome-declaration/) - On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on March 25, EU leaders pledged to offer citizens “both security and new opportunities” in the face of unprecedented global and domestic challenges, whilst leaving the door open for a ‘multispeed’ Europe. The Rome Declaration emphasised the message of unity and solidarity by - [Press Release: ECAS Welcomes Timmermans’ Announcement to Revise the ECI Regulation](https://ecas.org/publication/timmermans-eci-revision/) - In a speech at the annual European Citizens´ Initiative Day (ECI Day) on 11 April 2017, European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans announced the Commission´s plans to revise the ECI Regulation this year. A public consultation will be launched before the summer which should culminate in a proposal to revise the ECI Regulation this year. This follows - [Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2016](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-annual-trends-2016/) - In 2016, ECAS' Your Europe Advice experts replied to 20,491 enquiries, providing legal advice to citizens and businesses facing problems when exercising their free movement rights in the EU. Based on these enquiries, a report has been produced which identifies key trends in obstacles to free movement. This report was presented at a conference organised by - [YEA Annual Trends Features in Multiple Media Outlets](https://ecas.org/publication/yea-annual-trends-news/) - On 12 April, ECAS presented the Your Europe Advice Annual Trends 2016 report at its conference 'Free Movement of Persons in the EU: A Loved and Feared Reality' at the Press Club in Brussels. The report was featured during the first panel of the conference, which identified the current challenges and problems EU citizens face when exercising their - [Brexit Update: EU Institutions Adopt their Positions Ahead of the Negotiations](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-update-eu-institutions-adopt-positions-ahead-negotiations/) - Almost a year on since the EU referendum in the UK, the EU and the UK are gearing up for the negotiations that will define their future relations. With the snap general election in the UK, the start of the negotiations has been postponed until after the vote on 8 June. Meanwhile, Brussels negotiators have - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - May 2017](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-spotlight-may-2017/) - The EU Rights in the Spotlight section for this month features the opinion of an Advocate General of the EU Court of Justice with implications for free movement of workers in the EU. The section also includes an update on the new EU rules on roaming charges, which will apply as of 15 June 2017 and will - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - January](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-spotlight-jan/) - In December 2016, the European Court of Justice issued two important rulings on child benefits applicable to EU cross-border workers, both concerning Luxembourg. In the first case, the Court ruled that by making the receipt of a study grant by a child of a frontier worker conditional upon a continuous period of five years of - [ECAS Welcomes the Commission’s Proposal to Update EU Rules on Social Security Coordination](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-update-social-security/) - In line with ECAS’ joint recommendations with the EU Rights Clinic, proposed improvements to the existing legislation include an increased period for jobseekers to export their unemployment benefits, a clarification of the exportability of long-term care benefits and closer cooperation among Member States in data exchange. On 13 December 2016, the European Commission published its - [Continental Drift? ECAS on Brexit and the Cultural Sector](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-culture/) - On 8 December, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, participated in the conference Continental Drift? EU-UK Negotiations in the Cultural Sector organised jointly by Culture Action Europe, the European Cultural Foundation and Bozar. Ms Kavrakova defended freedom of movement as an asset that must not be taken for granted and that should be preserved “at all costs”, and - [EU Citizenship Report 2017: More Action Needed to Safeguard Freedom of Movement](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-citizenship-report-2017-safeguard-freedom-movement/) - On 24 January, the European Commission published its 2017 EU Citizenship Report, which takes stock of the achievements of the three years since the last report was issued and puts forward new actions to further improve the exercise of EU rights by citizens and businesses. While the new edition definitely brings a qualitative leap compared - [Our Legal Experts Answer Citizens' Questions on Business in the EU in a Facebook Chat](https://ecas.org/publication/yea-business-questions-facebook-chat/) - On 23 January, legal experts from the Your Europe Advice service, which ECAS manages on behalf of the European Commission, took part in a Facebook chat, answering EU citizens’ questions about doing business in the EU. Over 400 users followed the chat live, as legal experts from Your Europe Advice, as well as from the - [Future of EU Citizens in the UK – Uncertainty Remains After Brexit Bill Vote](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-bill-eu-rights/) - An amendment to the Brexit bill to guarantee the residence rights of EU citizens lawfully resident in the UK on the day of the EU referendum has been narrowly rejected by MPs despite assertions by the UK government that it is committed to securing their rights. The vote on the amendment (New Clause 57), which - [5 Takeaways on Brexit: Read Our Study on Brexit and Citizens' Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-takeaways-study/) - Since the Brexit vote in June 2016, a number of studies have looked into the financial and economic impact of Brexit, but there is yet to be a study undertaking a thorough analysis of the consequences of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU for citizens’ rights. With more than 3 million EU citizens resident in the UK and - [5 Takeaways on Brexit: No ‘Best Alternative’ to EU Membership for Citizens’ Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-takeaways-no-best-alternative/) - There is no ‘best alternative’ to EU membership for EU citizens in the UK and vice versa once the UK formally leaves the EU under which all their current rights will be fully preserved, according to a study produced by ECAS on the future relationship between the EU and UK. A choice, therefore, will have - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - March](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-spotlight-march/) - During the first two months of the year, the European Court of Justice issued three judgments and opinions regarding citizens’ rights. The most recent one concerns the EU’s competence to conclude, on its own, the Marrakesh Treaty on access to published works for visually impaired people. The second one is a decision annulling a Commission decision - [Your Europe Advice Informs European Parliament Reports on Obstacles to Free Movement Rights](https://ecas.org/publication/europe-advice-informs-european-parliament-reports-obstacles-free-movement-rights/) - Data provided by the YEA Quarterly Feedback Reports has provided the basis to a series of reports issued by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, at the request of the LIBE and PETI committees. These reports, issued between June and September 2016, analyse the current state of implementation of the - [More or Less Europe – What the Commission’s White Paper Means for Citizens](https://ecas.org/publication/commission-white-paper/) - The Commission's 'White Paper on the Future of Europe' outlines five scenarios for a 'new chapter' of European union for the EU27, but fails to answer the key question – what do citizens want from Europe. Despite European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's call for “leadership, unity and common resolve” in taking the EU27 forward after - [Brexit Update: Parliament Passes Brexit Bill](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-eu-citizens-rights/) - Parliament has voted to reject the Lords' amendments to the Brexit bill, paving the way for it to be passed into law. The bill will now receive Royal Assent after the Lords voted against further amendments to it last night. The bill initially went through the House of Commons unamended, only for the Lords to revise - [Citizens' Corner: ECAS on the Challenges of the ECI](https://ecas.org/publication/citizens-corner-debate-eci/) - RTBF/EURANET - TIME FOR ECI REVIEW? On 11 October, ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, and Digital Democracy Manager, Elisa Lironi, took part in a Citizens’ Corner debate organised by Euranet Plus and RTBF at the European Parliament on the challenges facing the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). The debate consisted of two separate panels, bringing together key MEPs - [Work Programme 2017: EU Citizens’ Rights to be Promoted but Still No Progress on the ECI](https://ecas.org/publication/work-programme-citizens-rights-promoted-no-progress-eci/) - On 25 October, the 2017 Work Programme of the Juncker Commission was presented to the European Parliament. ECAS welcomes the Commission’s commitment to promoting awareness among citizens and companies of their rights and upgrading and streamlining existing problem-solving tools. The 20-year-old Your Europe Advice service of the European Commission, proudly managed by ECAS, plays a - [Read our New Paper on Crowdsourcing](https://ecas.org/publication/read-new-paper-crowdsourcing/) - As part of its Digital Democracy Agenda, ECAS has been working over the past year on an analysis of crowdsourcing as a means of enhancing democratic engagement in the EU. Currently, the few existing tools for citizens’ participation in the EU have proven to be ineffective in bridging the democratic deficit. The crises the EU is - [Parliament Must Be Consulted on Article 50, High Court Rules](https://ecas.org/publication/parliament-article-50-high-court-ruling/) - Historic ruling on Article 50 On 3 November, the UK’s High Court adjudicated in favour of a challenge brought by UK citizens against the government’s right to use the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon and begin the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU). The historic - [Digital Democracy Day 2016 - Read the Report](https://ecas.org/publication/digital-democracy-day-2016-read-report/) - On 18 October, 2016, ECAS held its second annual Digital Democracy Day - Will E-Participation Bring Citizens Back to the EU? - exploring the future of e-participation and crowdsourcing, engaging 'digital natives' in policy-making and connecting citizens to politicians. More than 100 participants took part in the event, which was held in Brussels at the Representation of - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - November](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-spotlight-november/) - In September 2016, the European Court of Justice issued an important ruling on the rights of third-country nationals in charge of EU minors and, in early November, the UK’s High Court delivered a landmark judgment with implications for the UK’s exit negotiations with the EU, and, therefore, for citizens’ rights. The EU Court on the - [Triple A for Citizens: The Key Achievements](https://ecas.org/publication/triple-citizens-key-achievements/) - Triple A for Citizens is a project led by ECAS and implemented in partnership with 10 civil society organisations from across Europe since 2012. The project is about empowering civil society organisations to help citizens to exercise their rights through the provision of information, advice and free legal aid. The project is funded by the European Commission’s Partnership - [Your Europe Advice Celebrates its 20th Anniversary](https://ecas.org/publication/your-europe-advice-20th-anniversary/) - On the 20 and 21 October, the Your Europe Advice annual training seminar took place in Brussels. This year, the seminar was launched on the evening of the 19 October, with a cocktail party organised at ECAS’ premises, featuring the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, as special guest. This year's seminar was marked by the special celebration - [EUCROWD Launched at Conference in Slovenia](https://ecas.org/publication/eucrowd-launched-conference-slovenia/) - The EUCROWD project was launched in Slovenia on October 26 at a Conference hosted by the Institute for Electronic Participation EUCROWD is a project under the Europe for Citizens programme which aims to enhance citizens’ understanding of policy-making processes and encourage democratic engagement by establishing a framework for a crowdsourcing pilot at EU level. ECAS, - [Press Release: ECAS to Launch Triple A for Citizens Pan-European Network](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-launch-triple-a-european-network/) - ECAS will launch the Triple A for Citizens – Access to information, Advice and Active help - pan-European network today, establishing free legal aid and advice services across Europe and empowering citizens by raising awareness of their rights and helping with their enforcement. The network is open to all organisations that provide free advice services to - [Triple A - Access to Justice for Citizens](https://ecas.org/publication/free-advice-services/) - Empowering vulnerable citizens to exercise their rights through free direct advice services Triple A for Citizens is a 4-year project in the Western Balkans and Turkey, which empowers citizens to exercise their rights through the provision of free legal aid, advice and information. The project is led by ECAS and implemented in partnership with 10 other - [Switzerland Passes New Immigration Law that Avoids Quotas but Privileges National Workers](https://ecas.org/publication/switzerland-immigration-law-quotas/) - On 16 December 2016, the Swiss Parliament passed a balanced immigration law (the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals) which addresses its voters’ wish to curb immigration while hopes to maintain the country’s privileged access to the Single Market. 'Against Mass Immigration' Referendum In February 2014, 56.6% of the Swiss electorate took part in a referendum - [Missed our EU Citizenship Conference? Read the Report!](https://ecas.org/publication/missed-eu-citizenship-conference-read-report/) - On 18 May 2016 ECAS organised the Conference "24 Years of EU Citizenship: What We Stand to Lose", to discuss the achievements and challenges of EU Citizenship, close to 25 years after this concept was enshrined in EU Law. More than 70 participants took part in the Conference, which was held at the premises of the - [Our Study on e-Participation in the EU for the AFCO Committee Released](https://ecas.org/publication/potential-challenges-e-participation-european-union-study/) - In May 2016 AFCO's study on the 'Potential and Challenges of e-Participation in the European Union' was released. This study was commissioned and supervised by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee. The author of the study is Elisa Lironi, our Digital Democracy and Campaigning Coordinator. - [ECAS Contributes to a New Study on the Schengen Area State of Play](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-contributes-new-study-schengen-area-state-play/) - The European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizen’s Rights and Constitutional Affairs has recently released the study “Internal border controls in the Schengen area: is Schengen crisis-proof?", which analyses the Schengen area in the wake of the European refugee crisis and other recent developments. Despite suggestions that the end of Schengen is approaching or arguments that there is - [The Your Europe Advice Performs Well in the Single Market Scoreboard 2016](https://ecas.org/publication/europe-advice-featured-single-market-scoreboard/) - Every year the European Commission issues a scoreboard to assess the governance of the Single Market and its practical implementation on the ground by EU and EEA Member States. This monitoring tool called the 'Single Market Scoreboard' allows the Commission to spot the areas where more efforts are needed and use this information as a basis - [Civil Society Given a Boost in Western Balkans](https://ecas.org/publication/civil-society-given-boost-western-balkans/) - The third Western Balkans Summit took place in Paris in July 2016, resulting in substantial progress for civil society organisations in the region as well as an important development in Serbia’s efforts to accede to the EU. The standout achievement from the summit was the establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) for the - [What Does Brexit Actually Mean for Citizens’ Rights?](https://ecas.org/publication/brexit-actually-mean-citizens-rights/) - More than 2 months have elapsed since the UK’s Brexit vote, and there is still much uncertainty as to what this will mean for freedom of movement and the rights of EU and UK citizens after Britain does leave the EU. The mantra of the post-Brexit UK government has been ‘Brexit means Brexit’, but there - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - Summer Update](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-spotlight-summer-update/) - During the Summer, the European Court of Justice issued two important judgements with implications for the right to free movement. Both cases concern the entitlement to social benefits. In the first case, as a result of employment status, and, in the second case, derived from residency. In addition, the European Commission took Austria to the - [ECAS' Reaction to the State of the Union Speech](https://ecas.org/publication/towards-better-europe-empowers-citizens-digital-democracy/) - On 15 September, our colleague Elisa Lironi was featured as a guest on Euractiv's blog, reacting to President Juncker's State of the Union speech (SOTEU) of 14 September. In his speech, President Juncker emphasised the opportunities offered by the Internet and digital technologies, and explicitly made a bold promise to provide free wireless internet in public - [Bratislava Summit - ECAS Calls for a Citizen-Centric EU](https://ecas.org/publication/bratislava-summit-ecas-calls-citizen-centric-eu/) - As Europe’s presidents and prime ministers meet in Bratislava today, following Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s annual State of the European Union speech to the Parliament on 14 September, competing visions of the future of European Union look set to undermine its consolidation after the Brexit vote in June. Whilst Juncker talked of the EU still - [Your Europe Advice Contributes to Study on Free Movement Barriers](https://ecas.org/publication/europe-advice-study-free-movement/) - Quarterly reports produced by our Your Europe Advice management team, together with citizens’ complaints submitted to our legal experts, have been used as evidence to contribute to a new study released by the European Parliament on recurring obstacles that EU citizens and their family members face when moving to another EU country. The study, entitled ‘Obstacles to - [ECAS at the CoR Conference on EU Citizenship ](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-cor-conference-eu-citizenship/) - ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, was invited as a panellist to the Conference ‘Promoting EU Citizenship: rights, values and involvement’, which took place in Oviedo (Spain) on 23 September. The conference was organised by the Committee of the Regions, with the support of the European Commission and the regional Government of Asturias. ECAS’ Director was invited - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - February](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-february/) - In February 2016, the European Court of Justice (EJC) issued two important rulings, both of which having implications for those who make use of their right to free movement in the EU. The first ruling on February 4, 2016 concerns a case brought to the Court by the Supreme Court of Spain and the UK’s - [EU Rights Clinic’s Lawyer Anthony Valcke on Euronews about Belgian Expulsions](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-clinics-lawyer-anthony-valcke-speaking-about-belgian-expulsions-on-euronews/) - Our EU Rights Clinic’s professor, Anthony Valcke, was featured in Euronews' special report about expulsions of EU citizens from Belgium. The report focuses on an increasing trend of Belgian authorities to withdraw residence permits of EU citizens who lost their job in Belgium and became jobseekers or have no sufficient resources to support themselves. This resulted - [Save the Date for our Conference "24 Years of EU Citizenship: What We Stand to Lose" on 18 May](https://ecas.org/publication/save-the-date-for-our-conference-24-years-of-eu-citizenship-what-we-stand-to-lose/) - Nearly 25 years after the concept of EU citizenship was first enshrined in the EU Maastricht Treaty, it is time for a thorough assessment of the key achievements and the pending challenges where more work remains to be done in order for citizens to fully reap the rights and privileges that come with it. Recent - [Our Summary of the ECI Day 2016](https://ecas.org/publication/summary-eci-day-2016/) - The ECI Day 2016: Forging Change took place at the Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 20 April 2016 in Brussels. Organised by the EESC in cooperation with several civil society organisations, including ECAS, it represents an important annual meeting to exchange ideas on the ECI as a tool for participatory democracy in the EU. - [Online Chat on Professional Qualifications in the EU Reaches 115,000 Citizens](https://ecas.org/publication/chat-professional-qualifications/) - On 18 April 2016 ECAS' legal experts from the Your Europe Advice and from the European Commission - DG Internal Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs and Your Europe Portal- replied together about 100 questions on the recognition of professional qualifications and practicing in another EU country. Some questions also touched upon the academic recognition of diplomas across the EU. - [Our Director on VoxEurop, on the Impact of the New Security Measures on Citizens](https://ecas.org/publication/director-voxeurop-impact-proposed-security-measures/) - On 29 April our Director published an opinion editorial on VoxEurop on the measures that are being adopted in response to the security threats looming over Europe and their implications for the civil liberties and basic freedoms of EU citizens. She argues that citizens are expected to pay a high price with regard to their rights in hopes of a safer - [24 Years of EU Citizenship: Removing the Obstacles to Full Potential](https://ecas.org/publication/24-years-eu-citizenship-removing-obstacles-full-potential/) - This paper aims to take stock of the key achievements of EU citizenship, almost 25 years after the concept was introduced, but most importantly it aims to identify the pending challenges where more work remains to be done in order to remove the obstacles standing in the way of citizens’ enjoyment of their rights. In times - [Our Take on the Posted Workers Directive](https://ecas.org/publication/take-posted-workers-directive/) - Labour mobility is a passionately debated topic and an unusual one in that it is debated both within the “Brussels bubble” and across Europe. For some it represents the essence of the EU’s achievements that needs to be upheld and strengthened, whereas others feel that its effects are mostly negative and put downward pressure - [ECAS hosts a workshop on e-participation at the European Youth Event](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-hosts-workshop-e-participation-european-youth-event/) - ECAS was present at this year’s European Youth Event (EYE) as a group organiser to host a workshop on youth e-participation. The workshop “EU digital toolbox for successful e-participation” took place on Friday 19 May in Strasbourg and was co-animated by ECAS’ Digital Democracy Coordinator, Elisa Lironi, and Outreach and Membership Manager, Marta Pont. The - [Join us at the Forum Citoyenneté on 2 June!](https://ecas.org/publication/join-us-2-june-forum-citoyennete/) - ECAS and the Your Europe Advice service will be giving direct legal advice at the second Forum Citoyenneté at Université Populaire d'Anderlecht on Thursday 2 June between 9am and 20pm. The Forum will provide information and advice on elections, citizenship and active civic and political participation of European citizens in Belgium. The participants will be able - [Our Reply to the Transparency Register Consultation](https://ecas.org/publication/reply-transparency-register-consultation/) - In response to President Juncker’s commitment to enhanced transparency as part of his political priority for a more democratic Europe, the Commission launched in March 2016 a public consultation on the EU Transparency Register. The aim of this consultation was twofold: to gather views of the functioning of the current Register and to receive input - [ECAS at the Civil Dialogue in Barcelona](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-civil-dialogue-barcelona/) - On 31 May and 1 June, Barcelona hosted the conference 'European Citizenship in Challenging Times' and the annual Civil Dialogue, organised by the European Commission in collaboration with EUROM, the University of Barcelona and Barcelona City Council. ECAS’ Director, Assya Kavrakova, was invited as a speaker to the second panel session on how to consolidate - [ECAS Hosts a Free Movement Workshop at the Civil Society Days 2016](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-hosts-free-movement-workshop-civil-society-days-2016/) - As a member of the EESC Liaison Group with Civil Society, ECAS was invited to organise a workshop during the Civil Society Days 2016. The workshop, called Freedom of Movement in the EU: Challenges and Prospects for EU citizens, took place on 1 June 2016 and attracted numerous civil society representatives and larger public audience. The - [New Rules to Improve Free Movement in the EU](https://ecas.org/publication/new-rules-improve-free-movement-eu/) - In June 2016 two important steps have been done in order to further support the free movement of people across the EU. On 7 June the European Commission unveiled at a plenary session in Strasbourg its legal proposal to reform the rules on highly-skilled migrants coming to the EU to work, in order to attract - [ECAS' Contribution to the EU Citizenship Consultation – Summary of Key Recommendations](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-contribution-to-the-eu-citizenship-consultation-summary-of-key-recommendations/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) has the pleasure of submitting this Summary of 10 Recommendations in addition to its online response to the EU Citizenship Consultation. Our Mission and Projects ECAS is an international non-profit organisation, based in Brussels with a pan-European membership and 24 years of experience in working on EU issues. ECAS’s mission - [Save the Date: ‘Security or Rights – Does it Have to Be an Either-Or Question?’](https://ecas.org/publication/save-the-date-security-or-rights-does-it-have-to-be-an-either-or-question/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) and the European Movement International (EMI) are pleased to invite you to our joint event ‘Security or Rights – Does it have to be an either-or question?’ on the 13th of January at 6.30pm at the Residence Palace (rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels). Our panel will feature the following - [Security-Or-Rights Evening Debate on 13 January 2016](https://ecas.org/publication/security-or-rights-evening-debate-on-13-january-2016/) - On 13 January ECAS and the European Movement International (EMI) co-organised a panel debate on the security/rights trade-off, which focused on the measures that are being discussed at EU level to respond to the current security threats and the impact they might have on citizens' rights. With the recent agreement on the EU Data Protection Rules and - [Launch of the European Professional Card: A Step Towards the EU-Wide Recognition of Qualifications](https://ecas.org/publication/launch-of-the-european-professional-card-a-step-towards-the-eu-wide-recognition-of-qualifications/) - The European Professional Card (EPC) is a key element of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. It is intended to make it easier for professional qualifications to be recognised across the EU, in line with the Single Market Strategy’s goal to enable Europeans to work wherever they choose, anywhere in the EU. Following - [Launch of the DEEP-Linking Youth Project](https://ecas.org/publication/deep-linking-youth/) - On the 20th of January 2016, ECAS hosted the Kick-Off Meeting of the Digital Ecosystem for E-Participation Linking Youth (DEEP-Linking Youth), a two-year project supported by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme. As the coordinator of this project, ECAS will be implementing DEEP-linking Youth with six organisations: the Consultation Institute (TCI), Erasmus Student Network (ESN), Civil - [ECAS Gives Input for the Sustainability of EC-Funded Projects in Western Balkans and Turkey](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-gives-input-for-the-sustainability-of-ec-funded-projects-in-western-balkans-and-turkey/) - On 26-27 January representatives of the DG NEAR-funded Framework Partnership Agreement (FPAs) met in Brussels to discuss the sustainability of their actions and to formulate recommendations to DG NEAR for further support of the sustainability of project outcomes and regional network building. The conference, organized by the TACSO Regional Office, was attended by representatives of DG NEAR - [Our Director, Guest Panelist at CEPS' Lunchtime Debate on Schengen](https://ecas.org/publication/our-director-guest-panelist-at-ceps-lunchtime-debate-on-schengen/) - On 28 January Assya Kavrakova was invited as a speaker by CEPS to the lunchtime debate on Schengen hosted by Carlos Coelho MEP at the European Parliament, as part of the SOURCE project. The discussion was moderated by the EU Observer journalist Nikolaj Nielsen and included as guest speakers the Executive Director of Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, Professor Groenendijk at the University - [Find Us at the Forum Citoyenneté on 4 February](https://ecas.org/publication/forum-citoyennete/) - ECAS and the Your Europe Advice service will be present at the Forum Citoyenneté at La Tentation on Thursday 4 February between 10am and 20pm. The Citizenship Forum (Forum Citoyenneté) is part of the European project One-stop-shop for the political participation of mobile EU citizens and it is co-organised by Objectif - a Belgian association that works to - [The Commission to Revise the Schengen Borders Code Amidst National Threats to the System](https://ecas.org/publication/the-commission-to-revise-the-schengen-borders-code-amidst-national-threats-to-the-system/) - On 15 December 2015 the European Commission presented a comprehensive package of measures aimed at securing the EU’s external borders and at managing migration flows more effectively. This came in response to the migration pressures and the latest terrorist attacks in Paris and security threats looming over Europe, which have prompted Member States to temporarily - [ECAS Presents its Interim Report on E-Participation in the EU at AFCO's Public Hearing](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-will-present-an-afco-commissioned-report-e-participation/) - ECAS participated in the European Parliament's public hearing on Monday 14 March 2016 on the state of E-Democracy in the EU to present its interim report of a study on E-Participation The hearing was organised by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and focused on the Potential and Challenges of E-Democracy in the EU. The session was - [Bottlenecks in the Implementation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive](https://ecas.org/publication/bottlenecks-implementation-cross-border-healthcare-directive/) - The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) released a report last October on the implementation of Directive 2011/24/EU (the so-called Cross-Border Healthcare Directive), which clarifies the rights of patients to seek reimbursement when travelling abroad for the purpose of receiving healthcare treatments. The Commission released its first report on the implementation of this Directive in September - [Citizen Participation in the new EU eGovernment Action Plan 2016 - 2020](https://ecas.org/publication/citizen-participation-in-the-new-eu-egovernment-action-plan-2016-2020/) - On the 5th of November 2015, ECAS’ Digital Democracy and Campaigning Coordinator, Elisa Lironi, was invited as a speaker to the second workshop on the new EU eGovernment Action Plan organised by Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology (DG CONNECT). The EU eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 focused on developing eGovernment services, strengthening the - [Participate in the YEA Chat on Healthcare Abroad in the EU on 17 November](https://ecas.org/publication/participate-yea-chat-healthcare-abroad-eu-17-november/) - Do you have questions about your healthcare entitlements when moving to another EU country? As an EU citizen, when you move to another EU country you can get healthcare under the same conditions as other local residents. However, health care and social security systems differ from one country to another, as well as the rules determining who is - [Upholding Freedom of Movement and EU Citizens’ Rights in the PNR Directive](https://ecas.org/publication/upholding-freedom-of-movement-and-eu-citizens-rights-in-the-pnr-directive/) - ECAS and the European Movement International (EMI) are very concerned about the implications that the proposed Passenger Name Record (PNR) Directive may have for free movement and fundamental rights of EU citizens. We have produced a join set of key recommendations that have been sent to the relevant EU decision-makers in the European Parliament, the - [ECAS' Reaction to the ENP Review](https://ecas.org/publication/ecas-reaction-to-the-review-of-the-enp/) - In March 2015 the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, launched a public consultation on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which remained open until June 2015. ECAS submitted its contribution to this consultation, under which over 25o responses were received that been - [Triple A Conference: The Challenges of Providing Free Legal Aid in the Western Balkans and Turkey](https://ecas.org/publication/triple-a-conference-the-challenges-of-providing-free-legal-aid-in-the-western-balkans-and-turkey/) - Last week, the conference “Access to Justice and the Roles of CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey: From practice to policy impact” was held in Pristina from November 26-27. The Conference was put on by ECAS and its local partners, Civil Rights Program Kosovo (CRPK), who are working together along with several others on - [EU Values Called into Question at European Parliament’s Holistic Approach to Migration Debate](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-values-called-into-question-at-european-parliaments-holistic-approach-to-migration-debate/) - On 23 September the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament held an inter-parliamentary committee meeting with the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs Agencies and the national Parliaments of the Member States on a holistic approach to migration. The meeting was a follow-up to the Resolution of the EP adopted in - [AFCO Committee Approves its Common Position on the ECI Revision](https://ecas.org/publication/afco-committee-approves-its-common-position-on-the-eci-revision/) - Last week the Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) of the European Parliament approved a final report on the European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI). The draft report was presented in April 2015 and on the 28th of September the compromise amendments were voted upon. The compromise amendments proposed by the AFCO Committee highlighted the importance of fulfilling the - [Triple A Partners Provide Assistance to Refugees in the Western Balkans](https://ecas.org/publication/triple-a-partners-provide-assistance-to-refugees-in-the-western-balkans/) - The partners and former pilot projects of Triple A, a project led by ECAS focusing on reforms to free legal aid in the Western Balkans and Turkey, have been busy. With the influx of migrants and refugees passing through the region, we have heard from several local organizations (currently or formerly involved in the project) about - [Cultural Centres in the Age of Digitalization](https://ecas.org/publication/cultural-centres-age-digitalization/) - On Thursday 15 October, ECAS’ Digital Democracy and Campaigning Coordinator Elisa Lironi was invited to speak at the Travelling Academy, which was organised by the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC). The Travelling Academy was a three-day seminar in Krakow which gathered representatives of cultural centres to debate on ‘Reinventing Forms of Civic Participation and - [Triple A Regional Conference in Pristina November 26-27th](https://ecas.org/publication/triple-a-regional-conference-in-pristina/) - ECAS is organizing a Regional Conference in Pristina, Kosovo, on November 26-27 with its partners Civil Rights Projects Kosovo. The event will be held in the scope of the Triple A (Access to Information, Advice, and Active Help Services) project and will address several different topics: How the ongoing migration/refugee crisis is affecting the Western - [Deutsche Bank backs up ECAS' findings on the positive impact of EU migration](https://ecas.org/publication/deutsche-bank-endorses-ecas-findings-positive-impact-eu-immigration/) - A new Deutsche Bank Research Briefing reviews and analyses the effects of EU free movement, paying particular attention to social security and concerns about "benefit tourism". Deutsche Bank drew upon ECAS' earlier work in its report, referencing ECAS' recent publication "Fiscal Impact of EU Migrants in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK", and drawing upon and agreeing with the - [Free Borders is a Privilege We are Losing' Claims our Director](https://ecas.org/publication/free-borders-is-a-privilege-we-are-losing-claims-our-director/) - Our Director, Assya Kavrakova, was recently interviewed by the Danish newspaper Information on the impact of dismantling Schengen. She claims that such an ungly scenario could have long-standing consequences for one of the EU citizens' most cherished rights, namely free movement in Europe. Read the full article here - [Our Response to the Public Consultation on EU Social Security Coordination](https://ecas.org/publication/response-consultation-social-security/) - In reponse to the European Commission's public consultation on EU social security coordination on the revision of Regulations (EC) No 883/2004 and (EC) No 987/2009, which closed on 7 October 2015, ECAS made the following recommendations: Recommendation 1: A new provision should be inserted into Regulation 883/2004 that explicitly provides for the right of EU citizens - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - June](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-june-3/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings regarding 'EU Citizenship' and 'Freedom of Movement for Workers': June 18th 2020: EU Citizenship - Right of entry to a Member State of a third-country national who is a member of the family of an EU citizen On June 18th, the - [EU Rights in the Spotlight](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-4/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings regarding the Freedom of Movement: February 4th 2020: Freedom of Movement - Workers' Rights National legislation which restricts the grant of a benefit introduced for top-level sportspersons to citizens of the Member State concerned is an impediment to the freedom of - [EU Rights in the Spotlight - June](https://ecas.org/publication/eu-rights-in-the-spotlight-june/) - This EU Rights in the Spotlight section features one European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgments affecting EU citizenship: The German vignette for the use by passenger vehicles of federal roads is contrary to EU law On June 18th, the European Court of Justice ruled that the "infrastructure use charge" introduced by Germany to charge passenger vehicles ## Team - [Michael Hally](https://ecas.org/team/michael-hally/) - As European Democracy Intern Michael’s main responsibilities are: Supporting the Civic Monitoring of the EU's Digital Decade Strategy, including the assessment of national roadmap measures; Conducting research, mapping and collection of data on digital rights and e-government across the Member States; Contributing to ECAS's crowdsourcing campaigns and citizen engagement activities; Carrying out EU-wide stakeholder mapping - [Nicolò Triacca](https://ecas.org/team/nicolo-triacca/) - As Project Manager Nicolò Triacca’s main responsibilities are: - Managing ECAS’s Digital Democracy initiatives - Conducting research, mapping and collection of relevant data on digital democracy - Collaborating with civil society organisations in advocacy, research and policy documents - Organising online and offline events (i.e. webinars, conferences, seminars etc.) - Contributing to research and development - [Raluca Negulescu-Balaci](https://ecas.org/team/raluca-negulescu-balaci/) - Raluca Negulescu-Balaci is a non-profit sector professional at the intersection of artificial intelligence, education equity, and civic engagement, with 17+ years of experience bridging grassroots community work and systemic innovation. As Executive Director of the UiPath Foundation, she oversees large-scale, data-driven educational interventions for underserved children in Romania, ensuring that overlooked learners become active participants, - [Fraser Henderson](https://ecas.org/team/fraser-henderson/) - Fraser Henderson is a co-founder of the Association of Consultation & Engagement Professionals (ACEP) and currently works for the Belgian digital participation scale-up ‘Go Vocal’, supporting public bodies in the field of expanding democratic participation using innovative tools and technologies. Fraser has spent two decades in advocacy and research in advancing civic engagement. He led the - [Tone Oeyen](https://ecas.org/team/tone-oeyen/) - Tone Oeyen is a partner in the Brussels office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. He specialises in European and Belgian competition law, with a particular focus on cross-border merger control and cartel enforcement. He also advises on abuse of dominance and state aid, as well as on general EU and international trade law and trade defense - [Jean Denise Lambert](https://ecas.org/team/jean-denise-lambert/) - Jean Denise Lambert is a former Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/European Free Alliance group. She was a member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee working on issues including immigration, social inclusion, workers’ rights and free movement, and a substitute member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee. She was - [Paulina Fröhlich](https://ecas.org/team/paulina-frohlich-2/) - Paulina Fröhlich is Head of the Future of Democracy Programme. She directs innovative dialogue projects, such as "Europa Hört", designs and curates Innocracy, a conference on democratic transformation, and co-authors discussion papers, such as "Glotzt nicht so romantisch" and the study "Die Talkshow-Gesellschaft". Fröhlich also heads the development of the digital platform "European Hub for - [Maja Kurilić](https://ecas.org/team/maja-kurilic/) - Maja Kurilić has extensive experience in European civic education and civil society development. She managed the flagship programme of THE CIVICS Innovation Hub, leading the largest mapping of civic education organizations across 31 European countries. In the NGO space, she has been actively engaged in socially impactful initiatives, ranging from youth empowerment to political participation - [Moritz Röttinger](https://ecas.org/team/moritz-rottinger/) - Moritz Röttinger is an Austrian lawyer and EU policy expert with more than four decades of experience in European law, internal market policy, and public administration. Since 1997, he has served at the European Commission, working across DG Enterprise, DG Internal Market, and DG GROW on issues related to commerce, business services, administrative cooperation, and - [Lisbeth Kirk](https://ecas.org/team/lisbeth-kirk/) - Lisbeth Kirk if the founder of the EUobserver, one of Europe's most influential newspapers with a pan-European readership. She oversees strategic development of the organisation's business and news service, including cross-border and investigative journalism. She holds degrees from the Danish School of Media and Journalism and from Copenhagen Business School's leadership program. Prior to - [Emilio De Capitani](https://ecas.org/team/emilio-de-capitani/) - Emilio De Capitani is a Former Official of the European Parliament (19852011) and Secretary of the European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE 1998-2011). Previously (1971 to 1985) head of the Service in charge of legislative coordination for the Regional Government of Lombardy (Giunta Regionale). As ordinary EU Citizen, he has promoted some legal cases before - [Kateryna Lytovka](https://ecas.org/team/kateryna-lytovka/) - Kateryna Lytovka is an international development professional with over nine years of experience managing complex grant programmes in Ukraine and the wider Eastern European region, including five years in senior leadership roles. She holds an LL.M. with Honours in International and European Law from Ghent University and a Master of Laws with Honours from Taras - [Marek Mračka](https://ecas.org/team/marek-mracka/) - Marek Mračka is one of the founders of MEMO98, a Slovak NGO established in 1998 specialising in media monitoring. Marek has a background in social sciences and has been following elections since 2001. He has participated in more than 40 OSCE/ODIHR or EU election observation missions, usually as Media analyst but also as Social Media - [Paola Zamboni](https://ecas.org/team/paola-zamboni/) - As an ECI Forum Coordinator & DEIA Manager, she is involved in: Coordination of the European Citizens' Initiative Forum (under contract with the European Commission) Responsibilities include providing guidance on the ECI procedure, organising online and in-person awareness events, and contributing to the continuous improvement of the platform Management of ECAS's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and - [Dorarta Hyseni](https://ecas.org/team/dorarta-hyseni/) - As Societal Resilience Manager, Dorarta Hyseni’s main responsibilities include: Oversee and manage ECAS’s horizontal priority on Societal Resilience (SR). Support and further develop ECAS’s SR capacity, including through multi-stakeholder networks and coalitions, representation, and opinion-making. Fundraise for ECAS Societal Resilience programming in the EU, as well as in accession and pre-accession countries. Dorarta has extensive - [Elisa Lironi](https://ecas.org/team/elisa-lironi/) - Deputy Executive Director, Elisa's main responsibilities are: Supporting the Secretariat-General of the Commission in the development and implementation of the ECI Forum; Development and implementation of EU projects related to Digital Democracy, Populism and Online Disinformation; Publications and research projects on (digital) democracy in the EU; Management of ECAS’ Knowledge Centre; Supporting ECAS’ advocacy - [Antoniya Shalamanova](https://ecas.org/team/antoniya-shalamanova/) - Before joining ECAS, Antoniya has worked in the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria, Sofia Development Association and Sofia Tech Park. She has experience in project and event management, stakeholder engagement and retainment, consulting, campaigning and policy advising. In addition, Antoniya has experience in research and analysis with publications in the - [Marta Azevedo Silva](https://ecas.org/team/marta-azevedo-silva/) - As a Communication Manager at ECAS Marta's main responsibilities are: Contribute to further developing and implementing ECAS’ communication and stakeholder engagement strategy. Manage ECAS’ social media, website and mailings. Coordinate ECAS’ project-related communication and stakeholder engagement activities. Proactively engage with the EU level media outlets and communication stakeholders to promote the ECAS’ brand, accomplishments and - [Desislava Ivanova](https://ecas.org/team/desislava-ivanova/) - As a Programme Director for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Desislava Ivanova’s main responsibilities include: Managing the ECAS branch in CEE. Managing ECAS’ activities and projects in promoting EU values, rights and freedoms in CEE, including initiatives aimed at fostering the formation of cross-sector alliances to tackle disinformation. Facilitating existing and building new partnerships with - [Malachy Vallely](https://ecas.org/team/malachy-vallely/) - Malachy Vallely a native of Northern Ireland with a business background, has specialised since the mid-1970s in the management of nonprofit organisations in Ireland, the UK, Continental Europe and Africa concentrating on Higher Education, Health, Performing Arts and Museums. In a personal capacity he has served as Chairman of the Leuven Institute for Ireland in - [Giulia Sandri](https://ecas.org/team/giulia-sandri/) - As Research and Development Manager, Giulia's main responsibilities are: - Oversee/manage ECAS’s Horizon projects’ participation - Develop training modules - Develop ECAS capacity to lead and apply for Horizon projects - Develop ECAS funding applications to various EC and private donors’ funding streams - Upscale ECAS’s presence in media with publications, policy papers and opinion pieces - [Kristina Velimirovic](https://ecas.org/team/kristina-velimirovic/) - As Project Coordinator, Kristina’s work focuses on projects in EU democracy, digital policy, and just transition. Her main responsibilities are: Supporting ECAS’ tasks for the BOLSTER project (Horizon Europe), focusing on the impact of the Just Transition on marginalised communities and the ways of engaging them in the transition process together with the European Democracy - [Abdallah Bahlit](https://ecas.org/team/abdallah-bahlit/) - In his position as Senior Finance Manager, Abdallah’s main responsibilities are Supporting the daily financial management (payments, invoicing and reporting) Abdallah is also Administrator at IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts), Brussels. Previously he was Administrative Assistant at ECAS and has 12 years' experience in banking and telecommunication management.Abdallah holds a Bachelor’s degree - [Pia Conseil](https://ecas.org/team/pia-conseil/) - As Training Manager of Your Europe Advice, Pia is responsible for the continuous training of the YEA experts; the production of legal updates contributing to the Your Europe Portal training and coordination of the expert for DG Grow Chat sessions organising the annual training seminar. Before working for Your Europe Advice for 20 years, - [Claire Damilano](https://ecas.org/team/claire-damilano/) - As Project Manager YEA and Senior Legal Expert, Claire Damilano’s main tasks include: Managing Your Europe Advice (YEA) Human Resources Providing legal advice for ECAS Claire, who joined ECAS in 2001, is a qualified lawyer from France specialising in International and European Social law. She previously worked in the Human Resources department of a French NGO - [Assya Kavrakova](https://ecas.org/team/assya-kavrakova/) - As Executive Director of ECAS, Assya's main tasks are to: Provide direction to the formulation and leadership to the achievement of the organisation’s vision, mission, strategy and objectives; Manage ECAS' day to day activities. Assya Kavrakova has 20 years of experience in senior management positions in the non-governmental sector, including skills to manage - [Joaquim José Costa Pinto da Silva](https://ecas.org/team/joaquim-jose-costa-pinto-da-silva/) - Joaquim José Costa Pinto da Silva is a former EU civil servant and an expert in the cultural field. He has a post-graduate degree in Literature Translation as well as a degree in Modern Languages and Literature. He worked as a Director of the European Union Pavilion at the Expo 98 of Lisbon and, between 2000 ## Vacancies - [Crowdsourcing Platform for Civic Participation – Call for Expressions of Interest](https://ecas.org/vacancies/crowdsourcing-platform-for-civic-participation-call-for-expressions-of-interest/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) is seeking expressions of interest from qualified organisations and consortia to design, develop, and deploy a new digital crowdsourcing platform for civic participation. Building on more than a decade of experience in citizen engagement and participatory democracy, ECAS intends to develop a next-generation platform that integrates advanced AI capabilities, - [Citizen Resilience Manager](https://ecas.org/vacancies/citizen-resilience-manager/) - Description of the Job For more 35 years, ECAS has been supporting citizens in understanding and exercising the rights deriving from their EU citizenship. Through its projects and services, ECAS has developed extensive expertise in areas such as free movement, political rights, access to information and the practical implementation of EU legislation affecting citizens. The ## Members - [BrainGain Latvia](https://ecas.org/members/braingain-latvia/) - [Humanists International](https://ecas.org/members/humanists-international/) - NULL - [Access to Information Programme](https://ecas.org/members/access-to-information-programme/) - [European Institute Foundation](https://ecas.org/members/european-institute-foundation/) - [Zen écolier](https://ecas.org/members/zen-ecolier/) - [ZERO](https://ecas.org/members/zero/) - [Open Lithuanian Foundation (OLF)](https://ecas.org/members/open-lithuanian-foundation-olf/) - [European Capital of Democracy (ECoD)](https://ecas.org/members/european-capital-of-democracy-ecod/) - [Institute for Strategi Dialogue (ISD)](https://ecas.org/members/institute-for-strategi-dialogue-isd/) - [Foundation Web Shelf](https://ecas.org/members/foundation-web-shelf/) - [DigitalHub](https://ecas.org/members/digitalhub/) - [DCN Global](https://ecas.org/members/dcn-global/) - [Civil College Foundation (CCF)](https://ecas.org/members/civil-college-foundation-ccf/) - NULL - [The Wheel](https://ecas.org/members/the-wheel/) - NULL - [Lithuanian College of Democracy (LDUK)](https://ecas.org/members/lithuanian-college-of-democracy-lduk/) - NULL - [Fondazione ISMU](https://ecas.org/members/fondazione-ismu/) - NULL - [ProInfo Foundation](https://ecas.org/members/proinfo-foundation/) - [Institute for Electronic Participation (Inštitut za elektronsko participacijo)](https://ecas.org/members/institute-for-electronic-participation-institut-za-elektronsko-participacijo/) - INePA is as an independent, not for profit, non-governmental organisation professionally oriented on eDemocracy, eParticipation, eGovernance and eInvolvement. Its mission is to contribute to development of democracy with socially innovative use of Internet by citizens, civil society, institutions and decision-makers. - [Citizen Participation Forum](https://ecas.org/members/citizen-participation-forum/) - BG Active Citizen focuses on the improvement of regulations regarding citizen participation at the local, national, and the EU level. The organization advocates for enhanced citizen participation and partnership in government, as well as capacity building, exploration and application of practical working models throughout europe. Currently, BG Active Citizen is involved in the participatory planning - [Sustainable Community Development](https://ecas.org/members/sustainable-community-development/) - ODRAZ encourage and implement changes leading towards sustainability, operating at various levels, from local to national and international. - [Democracy International](https://ecas.org/members/democracy-international/) - Democracy International is a registered association in Germany that supports democracy activists in building campaigns and organisations. It shares knowledge and legal expertise on direct democracy and campaigns for more democracy at the transnational level. Democracy International's goals are to give citizens a direct say in political decision-making and to make governments more accountable. - [Alliance4Europe](https://ecas.org/members/alliance4europe/) - Alliance 4 Europe is a non-profit brining together pro-European and pro-democratic actors, to promote and advance democracy and fundamental values in Europe. A4E promotes civic engagement by creating space for cooperation among civil society organisations, through to academia, the creative industries, the arts, and social enterprise. A4E provides its network with tools, analysis on disinformation - [Maldita.es](https://ecas.org/members/maldita-es/) - NULL - [EUObserver](https://ecas.org/members/euobserver/) - NULL - [Telecentar](https://ecas.org/members/telecentar/) - NULL - [The Civics](https://ecas.org/members/the-civics/) - NULL - [Human Development Research Initiative (HDRI)](https://ecas.org/members/human-development-research-initiative-hdri/) - NULL - [I am you peace Global](https://ecas.org/members/i-am-you-peace-global/) - NULL - [ETERON - Institute for Research and Social Change](https://ecas.org/members/eteron-institute-for-research-and-social-change/) - NULL - [ASOCIACIÓN DE DEBATE UNIVERSITARIO EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA EZTABAIDA ELKARTEA](https://ecas.org/members/asociacion-de-debate-universitario-euskal-herriko-unibertsitatea-eztabaida-elkartea/) - NULL - [The Greek school of Oslo (Den Greske Foreldreforeningen i Norge)](https://ecas.org/members/the-greek-school-of-oslo-den-greske-foreldreforeningen-i-norge/) - NULL - [Romanian Centre for European Policies (CRPE)](https://ecas.org/members/romanian-centre-for-european-policies-crpe/) - NULL - [Possibilize](https://ecas.org/members/possibilize/) - NULL - [Global Policy Research Group (GPRG)](https://ecas.org/members/global-policy-research-group-gprg/) - NULL - [NGO ‘Paralel-Silistra’](https://ecas.org/members/ngo-paralel-silistra/) - NULL - [LICEJ NGO](https://ecas.org/members/licej-ngo/) - NULL - [ROTHA T/A THE WHEEL](https://ecas.org/members/rotha-t-a-the-wheel/) - NULL - [Wales Council for Voluntary Action](https://ecas.org/members/wales-council-for-voluntary-action/) - The Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) is the voice of the voluntary sector in Wales. WCVA represents and campaigns for voluntary organisations, volunteers and communities. - [LA LIGUE DE L'ENSEIGNEMENT](https://ecas.org/members/la-ligue-de-lenseignement/) - "League de l'ensegneiment includes more than 30 - [OPEN ESTONIA FOUNDATION](https://ecas.org/members/open-estonia-foundation/) - OEF's goal is to help build open society in Estonia and other countries. Over the past 20 years the foundation's initiatives have ranged from school reforms to contemporary art and legal reforms. Today its focus is on strengthening open governance and civil society and reinforcing the principles of participatory democracy. Our activities are driven by - [DEFENSE DES ENFANTS - INTERNATIONAL BELGIQUE](https://ecas.org/members/defense-des-enfants-international-belgique/) - Defence for Children International (DCI) is an independent non-governmental organization established in 1979. DCI's objectives object are to promote and protect the rights of the child at global, regional, national and local levels. DEI implements specific programs to defend the rights of children in a vast number of areas. - [IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK](https://ecas.org/members/irish-environmental-network/) - The Irish Environmental Network supports and co-ordinates its member organisations in the environmental field so that they can maximize their impact and effectiveness through combining their efforts. Objectives of member organisations include conservation work, awareness raising, and campaigning and lobbying. - [Stichting Nederlands](https://ecas.org/members/stichting-nederlands/) - "Stichting Nederlands"" is an active membership cultural NG organisations - [On the Move (OTM)](https://ecas.org/members/on-the-move-otm/) - "On the Move"" (OTM) is the network for cultural mobility information active in Europe and worldwide. OTM mission is to encourage and facilitate cross-border mobility and cooperation - [Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l’Europe](https://ecas.org/members/association-des-etats-generaux-des-etudiants-de-leurope/) - [Law Centres Network](https://ecas.org/members/law-centres-network/) - Established in 1978, the Law Centres Federation is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. The LCF supports and promotes Law Centres¬ in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and works in defending the rights of local people. - [European Policy Centre](https://ecas.org/members/european-policy-centre/) - The European Policy Centre (EPC) is an independent, not-for-profit think tank, committed to making European integration work. The EPC works at the "cutting edge"" of European and global policy-making providing its members and the wider public with rapid - [CARITAS EUROPE](https://ecas.org/members/caritas-europe/) - Caritas Europa focuses its activities on issues relating to poverty, social exclusion and inequality, migration and asylum in Europe. On the global level, Caritas Europa is actively engaged in humanitarian assistance and international development throughout the world. - [Transparency International Liaison Office to the EU](https://ecas.org/members/transparency-international-liaison-office-to-the-eu/) - The TI-EU Office coordinates TIÍs EU-relevant anti-corruption work, carried out by national chapters across and beyond the EU, including cooperation among the 25 national chapters in European Union Member States, the national chapters in EU accession candidate countries, and TI-S. - [Buildings Performance Institute Europe](https://ecas.org/members/buildings-performance-institute-europe/) - A centre of expertise on all aspects of energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy performance of European buildings, the Institute focuses on policy analysis and advice and shares knowledge through studies, policy briefs, presentations and events. BPIE is promoting best practice approaches to improve the energy performance of buildings. - [Regent's Park College Oxford](https://ecas.org/members/regents-park-college-oxford/) - Regent's mission is to create an exceptional community of learning and research made up of individuals from a broad range of backgrounds and life experiences. Everyone at RegentÍs is focused on achieving excellence in undergraduate and graduate studies, ministerial formation and academic research - [Partnership for Transparency Fund](https://ecas.org/members/partnership-for-transparency-fund/) - [Centre for Cross Border Studies](https://ecas.org/members/centre-for-cross-border-studies/) - [VoxEurop](https://ecas.org/members/voxeurop/) - [Alliance ELIANT (European Alliance of Initiatives for Applied Anthroposophy)](https://ecas.org/members/alliance-eliant-european-alliance-of-initiatives-for-applied-anthroposophy/) - The "Alliance ELIANT ""works for freedom of choice and self-determination in responsible lifestyles in a developing Europe. ELIANT is involved in an active dialogue with the European institutions. The work of the Alliance also includes participation in the Alliance ELIANT at conferences - [Salvation Army](https://ecas.org/members/salvation-army/) - The Salvation Army is an international movement affiliated with the Christian Church. The mission of the organization is both evangelical and humanitarian. As such Salvation Army provides a social platform for believers of Jesus-Christ at the same time as fighting against poverty and inequality without any discrimination. - [Dublin City Centre Citizens Information Service](https://ecas.org/members/dublin-city-centre-citizens-information-service/) - The Citizens Information Board is the statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services in Ireland. Citizensinformation.ie was developed, and is maintained by the Citizens Information Board (formerly Comhairle) to replace the Oasis website. Citizens information.ie website is an Irish eGovernment initiative, and - [Initiatives and Studies on Multiethnicity Foundation](https://ecas.org/members/initiatives-and-studies-on-multiethnicity-foundation/) - [WeCitizens ASBL](https://ecas.org/members/wecitizens-asbl/) - [Macedonian Center for International Cooperation](https://ecas.org/members/macedonian-center-for-international-cooperation/) - MCIC is unique platform of dialogue and cooperation of different interest groups in Macedonia. - [European Union of Women](https://ecas.org/members/european-union-of-women/) - EUW aims to enable women to contribute to international affairs and to stimulate their interest in European affairs. - [IOGT International](https://ecas.org/members/iogt-international/) - IOGT is a global social movement of half a million people dedicated to building a world of peace, justice and democracy, where human rights are enjoyed by all. - [STATEWATCH](https://ecas.org/members/statewatch/) - Statewatch is a non-profit-making voluntary group founded in 1991. It is comprised of lawyers, academics, journalists, researchers and community activists. Its European network of contributors is drawn from 18 countries. Statewatch encourages the publication of investigative journalism and critical research in Europe the fields of the state, justice and home affairs, civil liberties, accountability and - [CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU](https://ecas.org/members/citizens-advice-bureau/) - The Citizens Advice Bureau Service provides free, confidential, impartial advice to everybody regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability. The aim of CAB is to ensure that individuals do not suffer through the lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them or through an inability to express their - [CITIZENS FOUNDATION](https://ecas.org/members/citizens-foundation/) - Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organisation that works to bring people together to debate and prioritize innovative ideas to improve their communities. Since 2008, Citizens Foundation has developed open source tools and methods to promote online, democratic debate and to increase citizens’ participation in their community in Iceland and worldwide. - [CIVIL KOLLÉGIUM ALAPÍTVÁNY](https://ecas.org/members/civil-kollegium-alapitvany/) - CCF is a nationwide adult education organization for community development, community work and citizen studies. In the last 20 years CCF became a leading organization in civil society development in Hungary, having intensive connection and network with several hundreds of civil society organizations and local communities across Hungary. - [CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM IN KOSOVO](https://ecas.org/members/civil-rights-program-in-kosovo/) - CRP/K objective is to enhance the protection of human rights and freedoms, to address legal obstacles through representation of the interests of its beneficiaries, to facilitate access to gender and diversity sensitive information and necessary documentation with the aim to promote equal access to services for all communities in Kosovo. - [DANISH IMMIGRANT COUNSELLING](https://ecas.org/members/danish-immigrant-counselling/) - DIC is a private Danish organisation dedicated to helping immigrants getting started in Danish society. It provides information and guidance on labour and housing markets, the social system, tenancies and problems, separation/divorce - parental authority etc.. DIC also advises on visa invitations, residence and family reunification. - [ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK](https://ecas.org/members/erasmus-student-network/) - ESN is the biggest student association in Europe that works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels, and providing an intercultural experience also to those students who cannot access a period abroad ("internationalisation at home"")." - [EUROPEUM INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN POLICY](https://ecas.org/members/europeum-institute-for-european-policy/) - EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent think-tank focusing on European integration and cohesion. It contributes to democracy, security, stability, freedom, and solidarity across Europe as well as to active engagement of the Czech Republic in the European Union. - [IMMIGRANT COUNCIL OF IRELAND](https://ecas.org/members/immigrant-council-of-ireland/) - The Immigrant Council of Ireland is the leading voice in securing improved rights and protections which benefit Irish citizens, migrants and their families. It offers support, advice and information, while also achieving positive change through strategic legal action and engagement with lawmakers to make immigration laws fit for purpose. - [EQUAL RIGHTS AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA](https://ecas.org/members/equal-rights-and-independent-media/) - IREX Europe is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation providing innovative programmes to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, foster pluralistic civil society development, and reduce conflict. The IREX Europe approach emphasizes partnerships with local development organisations to expand capacity, build sustainable institutions and affect change through training, partnerships, education, research and grant programmes. - [CENTRE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS](https://ecas.org/members/centre-for-the-advancement-of-civil-society-organisations/) - [MACEDONIAN YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION](https://ecas.org/members/macedonian-young-lawyers-association/) - MYLA is а non-governmental, nonprofit and non-political professional organization of lawyers established in December 2003 aiming to strengthen the contribution of the young lawyers in promoting the legal profession and fulfilling the principle of the rule of law. - [OBJECTIVE ASBL](https://ecas.org/members/objective-asbl/) - Objectif asbl is a non-profit organisation that works for the total equality of rights for all inhabitants, whatever their origins are, by supporting and accompanying people who want to apply for Belgian nationality. - [PARTNERS ALBANIA](https://ecas.org/members/partners-albania/) - Partners Albania is an independent Albanian NGO established in 2001, working to support civil society and facilitate inter-sector cooperation in order to strengthen democratic institutions and advance economic development. - [PRAVNA KLINIKA - PRAVNOG FAKULTETA U ZAGREBU](https://ecas.org/members/pravna-klinika-pravnog-fakulteta-u-zagrebu/) - The Legal Clinic serves a dual purpose. On one hand, through participation in the work of the Legal Clinic the students involved in its work acquire direct experience on the functioning of legal institutions in their social context. On the other hand, the Legal Clinic should participate in the integrated system of providing free legal - [SCIENCE FOR YOU](https://ecas.org/members/science-for-you/) - SciFY is a not-for-profit organization that develops cutting-edge information technology systems and freely offers them to everyone, along with the design, implementation details, and support needed, in order to solve real-life problems. - [STICHTING NETWERK DEMOCRATIE](https://ecas.org/members/stichting-netwerk-democratie/) - Netwerk Democratie is a platform for Democratic Innovation both offline and online created in 2011. Its main objective is renewing Democracy by creating more transparency, better opportunities for citizens to participate and holding politicians and decision-makers accountable. Both offline and online. - [THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY](https://ecas.org/members/the-democratic-society/) - Demsoc works to create opportunities for people to become involved in the decisions that affect their lives and for them to have the skills to do this effectively. It supports governments, parliaments and any organisation that wants to involve citizens in decision making to be transparent, open and welcoming of participation. - [THE IRISH IMMIGRANT SUPPORT CENTRE NASC](https://ecas.org/members/the-irish-immigrant-support-centre-nasc/) - NASC’s mission is to enable migrants and ethnic minorities to access justice and human rights and work to achieve a just, inclusive and equal society. It works for an inclusive society based on the principles of human rights, social justice and equality. - [MANABALSS.LV](https://ecas.org/members/manabalss-lv/) - Manabalss.lv is a public petition portal where citizens can vote for various initiatives using the e-signature system. Initiatives that receive more than 10,000 votes are submitted as a parliamentary initiative. - [Göteborgs kyrkliga Stadsmission - City Mission in Gothenburg](https://ecas.org/members/goteborgs-kyrkliga-stadsmission-city-mission-in-gothenburg/) - NULL - [Citizens Advice International](https://ecas.org/members/citizens-advice-international/) - [GONG](https://ecas.org/members/gong/) - GONG is a civil society organization that encourages citizens to actively participate in the political processes. Its goal is promoting and elevating human and civil rights, as well as encouraging and empowering citizens to participate in the political processes. - [CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES EN DERECHOS HUMANOS PRO IGUAL](https://ecas.org/members/centro-de-investigaciones-en-derechos-humanos-pro-igual/) - [INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE EUROPE](https://ecas.org/members/initiative-and-referendum-institute-europe/) - NULL - [Association Women for the Contemporary Society](https://ecas.org/members/association-women-for-the-contemporary-society/) - [Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe](https://ecas.org/members/leuven-institute-for-ireland-in-europe/) - NULL - [Expat Citizen Rights in EU](https://ecas.org/members/expat-citizen-rights-in-eu/) - [Donegal Local Development Company Ltd.](https://ecas.org/members/donegal-local-development-company-ltd/) - NULL - [Collegium Civitas](https://ecas.org/members/collegium-civitas/) - [WEBROOTS DEMOCRACY](https://ecas.org/members/webroots-democracy/) - [INSTITUTE OF YOUTH POWER](https://ecas.org/members/institute-of-youth-power/) - NULL - [LUDWIG BOLTZMANN GESELLSCHAFT – OPEN INNOVATION IN SCIENCE CENTER](https://ecas.org/members/ludwig-boltzmann-gesellschaft-open-innovation-in-science-center/) - [THE CONSULTATION INSTITUTE](https://ecas.org/members/the-consultation-institute/) - NULL - [OCEAN ALIVE](https://ecas.org/members/ocean-alive/) - NULL - [ADA COURS ACADEMY](https://ecas.org/members/ada-cours-academy/) - Ada Cours Academy(ACA) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization. ACA was created in 2018 and it is committed to the promotion of education, research, development and transfer of practical knowledge and skills with the aim of developing and improving the quality of life of the entire society, especially young people. Main activities: • Building personal - [Citizen Information Board](https://ecas.org/members/citizen-information-board/) - The Citizens Information Board is the Irish statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services. the Citizens Information Board's mandate, as defined by the Acts, is: • To ensure that individuals have access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating to social services; - [LOTA'S BOX](https://ecas.org/members/lotas-box/) - Lota's box was founded in 2018 to promote values of democracy, active citizenship and equality. Their projects are mostly based on activities related to youth in their community promoting lifelong learning, active citizenship, and European values. - [SUREYYA AGAOGLU COCUK DOSTI.ARI DERNËGI (SUREYYA AGAOGLU ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS OF CHILDREN)](https://ecas.org/members/sureyya-agaoglu-cocuk-dosti-ari-dernegi-sureyya-agaoglu-association-of-friends-of-children/) - SUREYYA AGAOGLU COCUK DOSTI.ARI DERNËGI was established in 1949 to include orphans or children with disadvantages in the society by providing them with accommodation and schooling. Main activities consist in: -Raising funds by making new memberships in order to finance scholarship payment; -Follow up EU calls for proposals in order to apply for grants which - [SOCIÉTÉ EUROPÉENNE DE CULTURE](https://ecas.org/members/societe-europeenne-de-culture/) - Since the 1950s, the SEC (Société Européenne de Culture) has been promoting studies, researches, and discussions among intellectuals and men of culture. The SEC has constantly sought to establish links with national and European institutions in order to emphasize the role of culture in creating values and overcoming world crises. The SEC's main belief is - [Association Les Amis De La Giraudiere](https://ecas.org/members/association-les-amis-de-la-giraudiere/) - To provide a place of learning and culture exchange open to people of all ages, all nationalities and from all backgrounds of life - [JEUNES VOLONTAIRES POUR L'ENVIRONMENT NEPAL](https://ecas.org/members/jeunes-volontaires-pour-lenvironment-nepal/) - Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environment Nepal (JVE NEPAL) is service oriented non-government organization with the aim of providing environment education, sustainable development, poverty alleviation social & economic justice, health & education service, providing equal access to the Adults/ Youth & women and backward communities. JVE-NEPAL registered in District Administration Office Kathmandu and Society Welfare Council Nepal. - [VOULIWATCH](https://ecas.org/members/vouliwatch/) - Vouliwatch (“Vouli" means Parliament in Greek) is a non-partisan parliamentary monitoring organisation that was set up and legally registered in Athens in March 2014 in response to the rising disillusionment of a large segment of the Greek population towards parliamentary democracy and the broader Greek political system. The organisation’s main goal is to bridge the - [DEMOCRATIE OUVERTE](https://ecas.org/members/democratie-ouverte/) - Démocratie Ouverte (Open democracy) is a French non-profit organization that gathers democratic innovators (non-profit organizations, networks, media, start-ups…), researchers, elected representatives, local governments and citizens to make our democracy more transparent, collaborative and participative. Originally created to support the Open Government Partnership in Paris in 2014, Démocratie Ouverte has developed into a network of democratic - [CODEMOS](https://ecas.org/members/codemos/) - "Established on 23-05-2017 as an association of general interest with scientific and ethic purpose - [Trans European Policy Studies Association](https://ecas.org/members/trans-european-policy-studies-association/) - The Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) is an international non-profit association under Belgian law (AISBL) established in 1974 and is the first transeuropean research network in the field of European affairs. Its aim is to provide high quality research on European integration based on a ‘Triple A’ approach: Analysis, Assessment and Advice in order - [Ethiopian Charities and Society Organization Forum](https://ecas.org/members/ethiopian-charities-and-society-organization-forum/) - "The Ethiopian Charities and Societies Forum (ECSF) was established in May 2013 to represent all types of charities and societies through networks. Vision ECSF envisions to create a strong and vibrant charities and societies sector for sustainable development. Mission Ensure the existence of enabling environment for charities and societies sector through strong representation - [Politikos – Wir Müssen Reden ! NGO](https://ecas.org/members/politikos-wir-mussen-reden-ngo/) - Politikos is a non-partisan initiative of young people who take an active interest in politics and society. - [OBERVATORY E-MEDINE](https://ecas.org/members/obervatory-e-medine/) - NULL - [ASOCIACIÓN BUILDING BRIDGES](https://ecas.org/members/asociacion-building-bridges/) - NULL - [EUROPEAN DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE](https://ecas.org/members/european-digital-development-alliance/) - NULL - [CENTER FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES](https://ecas.org/members/center-for-social-sciences/) - NULL - [Civic Aliance](https://ecas.org/members/civic-aliance/) - NULL - [THE NETWORK FOR AFFIRMATION OF NGO SECTOR - MANS](https://ecas.org/members/the-network-for-affirmation-of-ngo-sector-mans/) - NULL - [Our Common Future](https://ecas.org/members/our-common-future/) - NULL - [Belgrade Open School](https://ecas.org/members/belgrade-open-school/) - NULL - [Institute for Policy and Legal Studies](https://ecas.org/members/institute-for-policy-and-legal-studies/) - NULL - [NGO Support Centre](https://ecas.org/members/ngo-support-centre/) - NULL ## Partners - [European Union](https://ecas.org/partners/european-union/) - [Partner longer name example](https://ecas.org/partners/partner-longer-name-example/) - [Partner name](https://ecas.org/partners/partner-name/) ## Training - [Freedom of Movement Training - Spain](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-spain-2026/) - Country: Spain Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 6 October 2026 Language: Spanish Subject: The right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. Format: In person (Madrid, Spain) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning - [Cross-border telework training - Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/training/telework-training-luxembourg/) - Country: Luxembourg Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 29 September 2026 Language: Luxembourg Subject: Cross-border telework and related rights Format: In person (Luxembourg) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on cross-border telework rules. - [Freedom of Movement Training - France](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-france-2026/) - Country: France Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 15 September 2026 Language: French Subject: The right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. Format: In person (Paris, France) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning - [Focus Group: Political Participation of EU Mobile Citizens in the Netherlands](https://ecas.org/training/focus-group-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-in-the-netherlands/) - Country: The Netherlands Target audience: Local authorities, Civil Society Organisations and EU Mobile Citizens Date: 17 February 2026 Language: Dutch Subject: Political Participation, Voting rights Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: ECAS is organising a series of focus groups involving local authorities, EU mobile citizens and Civil Society Organisations of - [Freedom of Movement Training - Portugal](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-portugal-2025/) - Country: Portugal Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 07 October 2025 Language: Portuguese Subject: The right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. Format: In person (Lisbon, Portugal) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning - [Freedom of Movement Training – Ireland](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-ireland-2025/) - Country: Ireland Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 11 June 2025 Language: English Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In person (Dublin, Ireland) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current - [Cross-border telework training - Germany](https://ecas.org/training/cross-border-telework-training-germany/) - Country: Germany Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 27 June 2025 Language: German Subject: Cross-border telework and related rights Format: In person (Berlin, Germany) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on cross-border telework - [Freedom of Movement Training – Sweden](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-sweden-3/) - Country: Sweden Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 4 June 2025 Language: Swedish Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In person (Stockholm, Sweden) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current - [Online series of courses on freedom of movement](https://ecas.org/training/online-courses-freedom-of-movement/) - Target Group: local authorities, Civil Society Organisations, students, and policymakers who wish to empower EU mobile citizens in their free movement rights Language: English Subject: Online Course Format: E-learning (Moodle Course) Welcome to the online series of courses on freedom of movement proposed by ECAS, an innovative online course designed to provide comprehensive information on EU legislation - [Online Course: Political Rights of EU Citizens](https://ecas.org/training/online-course-political-rights-of-eu-citizens/) - Target Group: Local authorities, Civil Society Organisations and policymakers and anyone with an interest to get a better understanding on political rights of EU mobile citizens Language: English Subject: Online Course Format: E-learning (Moodle Course) Welcome to "Political Rights of EU Citizens", an innovative online course designed to provide recommendations and best practices to promote the right - [Webinar on how to organise inclusive events](https://ecas.org/training/webinar-on-how-to-organise-inclusive-events/) - Country: All EU Member States Target Group: Civil Society Organisations, civic movements and anyone with an interest in the subject who would like to learn more about how to organise inclusive events Date and time: 26 November 2024, 12:30 – 13:30 CET Language: English Subject: Gender equality and non-discrimination Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: - [Online Course: Crowdsourcing for Civil Society Organisations](https://ecas.org/training/online-course-crowdsourcing-for-civil-society-organisations/) - Target Group: Civil Society Organisations, civic movements and anyone with an interest to get a better understanding of how to leverage the power of crowdsourcing for effective citizen involvement. Language: English Subject: Online Course Format: E-learning (Moodle Course) Welcome to "Crowdsourcing for Civil Society Organisations", an innovative online course designed to equip you with the knowledge and - [Freedom of Movement Training – Luxembourg (in English)](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-luxembourg-in-english/) - Country: Luxembourg Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 08 October 2024 (09h to 13h) Language: English Subject: Freedom of movement of EU citizens and their family members Format: In person (Luxembourg) and Online (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to - [Freedom of Movement Training – Belgium (in Dutch)](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-belgium-in-dutch/) - in het Nederlands Country: Belgium Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 03 October 2024 (09h to 13h) Language: Dutch Subject: Freedom of movement of EU citizens and their family members Format: In person (Leuven) and Online (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society - [Freedom of Movement Training – Luxembourg (in French)](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-luxembourg-fr/) - En Français Country: Luxembourg Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 17 September 2024 (09h to 13h) Language: French Subject: Freedom of movement of EU citizens and their family members Format: In person (Luxembourg) and Online (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations - [Freedom of Movement Training – Belgium (in French)](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-belgium-in-french/) - En Français Country: Belgium Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 30 September 2024 (09h to 13h) Language: French Subject: Freedom of movement of EU citizens and their family members Format: In person (Brussels) and Online (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations - [Freedom of Movement Training – Belgium (in English)](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-belgium-in-english/) - Country: Belgium Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 02 October 2024 (09h to 13h) Language: English Subject: Freedom of movement of EU citizens and their family members Format: In person (Brussels) and Online (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to - [Webinar on Digital Democracy](https://ecas.org/training/webinar-on-digital-democracy/) - Country: All EU Member States Target Group: Civil Society Organisations, civic movements and anyone with an interest to get a better understanding on digital democracy Date and time: 14 March 2024, 12:30 – 13:30 CET Language: English Subject: European Democracy Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: As participatory democracy activities are on the rise - [Webinar on Implementing a Training Activity](https://ecas.org/training/webinar-on-implementing-a-training-activity/) - Country: All EU Member States Target Group: Civil Society Organisations, civic movements and anyone with an interest to get a better understanding of how to organise a training activity Date and time: 7 December 2023, 12:30 – 13:30 CET Language: English Subject: Training Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: In the framework of the European - [Survey on needs of mobile SMEs](https://ecas.org/training/survey-on-needs-of-mobile-smes/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) invites you to submit your feedback on the needs and obstacles faced by “mobile” SME’s (i.e. an EU SMEs doing or intending to do business in another EU MS). Participants to the survey are invited to identify three areas in which a mobile SME faces problems and/or lacks - [Survey on the needs of mobile academics and students](https://ecas.org/training/survey-on-the-needs-of-mobile-academics-and-students/) - The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) invites you to submit your feedback on the needs and obstacles faced by “mobile” academics and students (i.e. academics and students that move from one EU MS to another during their academic career/life, e.g. Erasmus students, visiting professors, etc.) Participants to the survey are invited to identify three areas in which - [Gender-inclusive language Webinar](https://ecas.org/training/gender-inclusive-language-webinar/) - Country: All EU Member States Target Group: Civil Society Organisations, civic movements and anyone with an interest in the subject who would like to learn more about gender-inclusive language Date and time: 17 November 2023, 12:30 – 13:30 CET Language: English Subject: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: - [Civil Society Accelerator](https://ecas.org/training/civil-society-accelerator/) - New and old Civil Society Organisations in Europe are at the heart of European Development. Article 15 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) recognises civil society’s role in European good governance. While activists in Europe are determined to promote innovation and social justice on various causes, they need to also devote - [YEA annual trends](https://ecas.org/training/yea-annual-trends/) - Your Europe Advice (YEA) is an online EU advice service for the public on the EU rights of citizens and businesses that ECAS manages under contract with, and on behalf of, the European Commission. YEA consists of a team of about 60 lawyers who cover all 24 official EU languages and are familiar both with - [Political participation of EU mobile citizens - Luxembourg](https://ecas.org/training/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-luxembourg/) - Country: Luxembourg Target audience: Local authorities, Civil Society Organisations and EU Mobile Citizens Date: 10 May 2023 Language: English Subject: Political Participation, Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: ECAS is organising a series of focus groups involving local authorities, EU mobile citizens and civil - [Political participation of EU mobile citizens - Spain](https://ecas.org/training/political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens-spain/) - Country: Spain Target audience: Local authorities, Civil Society Organisations and EU Mobile Citizens Date: 30 March 2023 Language: Spanish Subject: Political Participation, Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: Webinar (Webex) What is it for me – Learning Objectives: ECAS is organising a series of focus groups involving local authorities, EU mobile citizens and civil - [Freedom of Movement Training – Ireland](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-ireland/) - Country: Ireland Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 11 May 2023 Language: English Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In person (Dublin, Ireland) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current - [Freedom of Movement Training – Sweden](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-sweden/) - Country: Sweden Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 4 May 2023 Language: Swedish Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In person (Stockholm, Sweden) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current - [Freedom of Movement Training – Germany](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-germany/) - Country: Germany Target Group: Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations Date: 9 June 2023 Language: German Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In person (Berlin, Germany) and Webinar (Webex) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current - [YEA Monthly Legal Updates](https://ecas.org/training/yea-monthly-legal-updates/) - Your Europe Advice (YEA) is an online EU advice service for the public on the EU rights of citizens and businesses that ECAS manages under contract with, and on behalf of, the European Commission. YEA consists of a team of about 60 lawyers who cover all 24 official EU languages and are familiar both with - [Essential Skills for European Citizens' Initiative Organisers](https://ecas.org/training/essential-skills-for-european-citizens-initiative-organisers/) - Countries: All EU Member States Target group: ECI organisers Year (Ongoing): 2021-2023 Subject: European Citizens' Initiative, Citizen Engagement formats and techniques, Fundraising, EU level Advocacy Type: E-learning (MOOC) To support citizens that consider starting an European Citizens' Initiative, the Commission launched the ECI Forum, managed by ECAS. Our team developed a MOOC that helps participants - [Essential Skills for European Citizens' Initiative Organisers - The Basics](https://ecas.org/training/essential-skills-for-european-citizens-initiative-organisers-the-basics/) - Countries: All EU Member States Target group: ECI organisers Date: 19 October 2022 Subject: Essential Skills for European Citizens' Initiative Organisers - The Basics Format: Webinar What is it for me - Learning Objectives: - Understanding the areas of Commission competences and managing the registration process - Practical aspects of the ECI and what the - [Campaigning During a Global Crisis: How to Make your Topic Feature when External Events Take Away Attention?](https://ecas.org/training/campaigning-during-a-global-crisis-how-to-make-your-topic-feature-when-external-events-take-away-attention/) - Countries: All EU Member States Target group: ECI organisers Date: 6 July 2022 Language: English Subject: European Citizens' Initiative: how to campaign in times of crisis Format: Webinar What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This webinar aim is to focus on campaigning and practical guidance related to campaigning in challenging times due to - [Collecting Signatures Online: The Central Online Collection System with testimonials from successful ECIs!](https://ecas.org/training/collecting-signatures-online-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-central-online-collection-system-with-testimonials-from-successful-ecis/) - Countries: All EU Member States Target group: ECI organisers Date: 14 March 2023 Language: English Subject: European Citizens' Initiative: Collecting signatures online with a focus on the Central Online Collection System Format: Webinar What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This webinar provided practical information and guidance on collecting signatures online with a focus on - [Freedom of Movement Training - Spain](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-spain/) - Country: Spain Target group: Civil Servants, Rights’ Advice organisations, Civil Society Professionals Date: 4 November 2022 Language: Spanish Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In-person (Madrid, Spain) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current obstacles to - [Freedom of Movement Training - Italy](https://ecas.org/training/training-programme-on-freedom-of-movement-rights-2/) - Country: Italy Target group: Civil Servants, Rights’ Advice organisations, Civil Society Professionals Date: 21 October 2022 Language: Italian Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In-person (Milan, Italy) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current obstacles to - [Freedom of Movement Training - France](https://ecas.org/training/freedom-of-movement-training-france/) - Country: France Target group: Civil Servants, Rights’ Advice organisations, Civil Society Professionals Date: 21 October 2022 Language: French Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Format: In-person (Lyon, France) What is it for me - Learning Objectives: This session for Civil Servants and Civil Society Organisations aims to increase their awareness on current obstacles to - [State of the Union Citizens’ Rights Conference](https://ecas.org/training/state-of-the-union-citizens-rights-conference/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Decision-makers, Civil Society Professionals, Academics, Citizens Year: 2018-2022 Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights, European Citizenship Type: Interactive, Hybrid The conference “State of the Union Citizens’ Rights” is the flagship annual event of the ECAS’s EU Rights focus area since 2018. It is a forum to discuss current developments - [Training workshops on EU Funding](https://ecas.org/training/training-workshops-on-eu-funding/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Society Professionals, Activists Year: 2018 Subject: Fundraising Type: Interactive, In-person Description EU funding programmes are diverse and numerous, covering many different policy areas, activities and geographic locations. This course gave a comprehensive overview of EU funding for the non-profit sector, from the policy basis and funding programmes to identifying - [IMPEU Citizen toolkit](https://ecas.org/training/impeu-citizen-toolkit/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Citizens Year: 2021,2020 Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Type: Informational, Online The IMPEU Citizen toolkit “Know Your Rights as European citizen” provides information to support the participation of EU mobile citizens in the political and social life of their host communities. It contains practical recommendations on how - [Civic Integration Programme for vulnerable students](https://ecas.org/training/civic-integration-programme-for-vulnerable-students/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Students Year: 2020-2021 Subject: Digital Democracy, EU level Advocacy Type: MOOC, Online Newly arrived migrant students are a vulnerable group that often faces exclusion from their new communities. Becoming actively involved in the host country’s society is key for migrants’ integration. In the framework of the NEXUS project, ECAS designed - [Capacity Building on Inclusion Policies for Civil Servants](https://ecas.org/training/capacity-building-on-inclusion-policies-for-civil-servants/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Servants Year: 2020-2021 Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights Type: E-learning (MOOC) The IMPEU Online Course is for civil servants, local experts, and policy-makers The course enhances their knowledge, skills and competences to support the successful inclusion and participation of mobile EU citizens and their family members in the - [Empowering a New Generation of EU Citizens: The function of the European Parliament and the process of EU policy making](https://ecas.org/training/empowering-a-new-generation-of-eu-citizens-the-function-of-the-european-parliament-and-the-process-of-eu-policy-making/) - Countries: Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Romania Target group: Students Year: 2020-2021 Subject: EU Institutional processes, EU level Advocacy Type: Webinar Always striving to enhance citizens’ participation in the European democratic life, we designed and delivered a European Parliament Simulation training to students in their last year of high school. As active learners, students developed knowledge - [Training workshops on EU Project Cycle Management](https://ecas.org/training/training-workshops-on-eu-project-cycle-management/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Society Professionals, Activists Year: 2018 Subject: EU Project Management Type: In-person Content Both the initiation and the implementation of EU funded projects have their specificities. Knowing them is a prerequisite for a higher success rate. This course revealed these specificities to participants and provided them with tips and examples enabling - [Training workshops on EU Project Writing](https://ecas.org/training/training-workshops-on-eu-project-writing/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Society Professionals, Activists Year: 2018 Subject: Project proposals' writing Type: Interactive, In-person Description EU project writing is a skill. It requires both certain knowledge and capabilities. This course builds upon participants’ capacities in this respect by walking them through all the EU project writing steps and by enabling them - [Training workshops on Post-2020 Multi-annual Financial Framework: Policy Framework and Funding Programmes](https://ecas.org/training/training-workshops-on-post-2020-multi-annual-financial-framework-policy-framework-and-funding-programmes/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Society Professionals, Activists Year: 2018 Subject: EU level Advocacy, Fundraising Type: Interactive, In-person Content The new Multi-annual Financial Framework defines the EU’s spending priorities, policy goals and funding programmes for the 2021-27 budgetary cycle. This training presented everything that’s already known about the new policy priorities and funding programmes, - [Training workshops on EU Advocacy](https://ecas.org/training/training-workshops-on-eu-advocacy/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Society Professionals, Activists Year: 2018 Subject: EU level Advocacy Type: In-person Description Advocacy is an invaluable tool for influencing policy and policy-makers and making a difference where it matters most. Our advocacy training focuses on the EU level, aiming to provide the essential tools for building an advocacy strategy, developing - [Online Info Kiosks - Freedom of Movement](https://ecas.org/training/online-info-kiosks/) - Countries: EU wide Target group: Civil Servants, Citizens Year: 2021-2020 Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights, European Citizenship Type: Informational, Online The IMPEU online info kiosk is a web-based information system whose aim is twofold: to provide a forum to civil servants working with EU mobile citizens (e.g. policy-makers, public authorities, civil servants and - [Free movement obstacles and their influence on political participation of EU mobile citizens](https://ecas.org/training/free-movement-obstacles-and-their-influence-on-political-participation-of-eu-mobile-citizens/) - Countries: Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Luxemburg, France, Portugal Target group: Civil Society Professionals, Civil Servants, Citizens Year: 2018 - 2019 Subject: Freedom of Movement and related rights The objective of the focus groups was to explore the link between free movement obstacles encountered by EU mobile citizens and their political participation in local and EU elections ## Testimonies - [Compassion in World Farming EU Testimony](https://ecas.org/testimonies/compassion-in-world-farming-eu-testimony/) - "You are helping to change the world! A most sincere THANK YOU for the great work you do for ECIs and especially for your support for the End The Cage Age ECI." - [Authorising Officer of YouVoteEU, European Commission](https://ecas.org/testimonies/authorising-officer-of-youvoteeu-european-commission-2/) - "Thank you very much for the good results achieved with YouVoteEU. We would like to congratulate you on the success of this tool, which raised the interest of other stakeholders such as EurActiv, Politico and EU Observer, who shared the tool on their online platforms." - [ELIANT testimony](https://ecas.org/testimonies/eliant-testimony/) - "Alliance ELIANT is most thankful for the excellent work of the ECAS team! ECAS has helped us on various occasions, ranging from support in planning our events to research, collecting and organizing data for our campaigns. Their professional and skillful performance has turned ECAS in one of our most trusted partners in Brussels." - [ECI Webinar Participant](https://ecas.org/testimonies/eci-webinar-participant/) - "I am so glad to have attended this webinar! THANK YOU SO MUCH! and I look forward to collaborating with the people here". - [Your Europe Advice - Portugal](https://ecas.org/testimonies/your-europe-advice-portugal/) - "Boa tarde, muito obrigado pelas informações, me ajudou muito a ter uma ideia de como devo proceder. Fiquei muito feliz pelo retorno". - [FAIREU](https://ecas.org/testimonies/faireu/) - "The FAIR EU project received excellent results and can be regarded as an example of good practice, in terms of producing relevant activities, which achieve something of genuine value to the citizens targeted." - [Your Europe Advice](https://ecas.org/testimonies/your-europe-advice/) - "Bonjour, Un grand merci pour votre réactivité et vos conseils, très bonne continuation à vous et encore merci". - [Your Europe Advice - Germany](https://ecas.org/testimonies/your-europe-advice-germany/) - "vielen Dank für Ihre Auskunft und die Kontaktdaten für das weitere Vorgehen". - [YEA citizen from Slovakia](https://ecas.org/testimonies/yea-citizen-from-slovakia/) - “Dobry den. Dakujem Vam velmi pekne za poradenie. Velmi ste mi pomohli. S pozdravom Savelova”. - [ECI Forum](https://ecas.org/testimonies/eci-forum/) - "Thank you very much for your quick and detailed response to our inquiry. It has helped us a lot and we are now ready to submit to you a reworked proposal for our citizens' initiative." - [Raphaël, France](https://ecas.org/testimonies/raphael-france/) - "Je vous remercie d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre de manière aussi précise et détaillée !Je prends également note de votre conseil de contacter SOLVIT. Merci pour votre aide, qui m'est très précieuse!" - [YEA citizen from Romania](https://ecas.org/testimonies/yea-citizen-from-romania/) - “Va multumesc pentru raspunsul edificator si prompt ! Succes in continuare! Cu stima”. - [Your Europe Advice - Italy](https://ecas.org/testimonies/your-europe-advice-italy/) - "Thank you so much for your email and very detailed explanations. We are pleasantly surprised by this service. Thank you so much". - [Campbelle - Spain](https://ecas.org/testimonies/authorising-officer-of-youvoteeu-european-commission/) - “Thank you very much for detailed reply to my questions. May I commend you for the time and effort it must have taken to compile such a comprehensive report. The information contained has given me all the answers to my questions. Thank you again for your help”. - [Lena John Gomez](https://ecas.org/testimonies/lena-john-gomez/) - Thank you for the motivation to keep going! Looking forward to staying in touch and find out more about funding opportunities, and tips to write a successful international project. - [Christoph Talheim](https://ecas.org/testimonies/christoph-talheim/) - ECAS has an outstanding experience in providing useful information on EU funding and how to increase your chances to get some of it for your work. Regular “call for proposal” alerts, an Annual Funding Guide plus a crisp and well-structured set of f2f training sessions related to EU funded project know-how do provide best value - [Ilda Durri](https://ecas.org/testimonies/ilda-durri/) - From a European Solidarity Corps trainee’s perspective, I consider myself lucky to have completed a legal traineeship at ECAS. I heard about ECAS high reputation in the field of EU Rights from the European Commission staff while I was doing my traineeship there. I became curious to have a look at the other side of - [Esra Inan](https://ecas.org/testimonies/esra-inan/) - EVS is a programme that gives you an opportunity when you do not necessarily have specific experience or knowledge but do have the will to learn and expand your abilities. ECAS treats its volunteers equally and fairly, which creates a safe space for achieving various tasks and improving yourself in many ways. What stands out the most - [Laurence Hoeltschi](https://ecas.org/testimonies/laurence-hoeltschi/) - I followed ECAS' training on advocacy, EU fundraising and project management and I would certainly recommend it! Great format: perfect balance between theory, home assignment and feedback session Great staff: competent and available Great approach: useful tips/tools for our day-to-day work and a tailored feedback session for ready-to-use strategy - [Federico Tabellini](https://ecas.org/testimonies/federico-tabellini/) - The EVS experience at ECAS helped me better understand how EU institutions work in practice. Seeing things with your own eyes is very different from reading or hearing about them, and many things were different than I expected, in one way or another. Doing an EVS at ECAS is also quite different from what normally - [Joanna Marczuk](https://ecas.org/testimonies/joanna-marczuk/) - You know these moments in life when everything changes? Well, I was living my (rather) normal kind of life and then I went to ECAS. You might ask: how exactly did it change your life? To cut the long story short: completely. ECAS gave me opportunity to dive into a completely new world, full of - [Claudia Ortiz Reyero](https://ecas.org/testimonies/claudia-ortiz-reyero/) - ECAS prepared a really insightful training on EU funding for our organisation divided into two sessions (an introduction on the different schemes that suited us and a hands-on follow up), both of which were completely tailored to our needs. The trainer did not only provide us with comprehensive and customised information, but she also gave - [Violeta Naydenova](https://ecas.org/testimonies/violeta-naydenova/) - ECAS' training on the EU budget cycle has helped our office to identify the different stakeholders and advocacy ‘entry points’ in this field. We particularly appreciated the fact that the trainer dwelt a great deal on how significantly the timeframe of the budgetary procedure differs in practice from the one outlined in the Treaties. - [Gian Paolo Accardo](https://ecas.org/testimonies/gian-paolo-accardo/) - J'ai eu l'occasion de suivre une formation chez ECAS dans le but de mieux appréhender les mécanismes des aides et des projets européens destinés aux opérateurs de notre secteur. J'ai pu à cette occasion apprécier la compétence et le pragmatisme des responsables d'ECAS ainsi que des autres intervenants et leur disponibilité à répondre de manière exhaustive à - [Özgür Tek](https://ecas.org/testimonies/ozgur-tek/) - A group of 10 Turkish CSOs led by our organisation participated in a study visit to Brussels organised by ECAS. ECAS offered a training on EU funding and effective advocacy and campaigning, which was greatly appreciated by our participants and has been a notable experience for them. ECAS also facilitated meetings with Belgian CSOs and EU networks and - [Anna Romanczyk](https://ecas.org/testimonies/anna-romanczyk/) - Taking a decision to leave everything what you have and take a deep plunge into something unknown is never an easy one. I took such a decision, left Poland and decided to take one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do my EVS at ECAS. At ECAS I was mainly responsible for preparing a paper on changes to Cohesion Policy - [Elena Balasev](https://ecas.org/testimonies/elena-balasev/) - During my experience at ECAS I learned that I am thrilled to find what unites me with the others, but always looking to learn from those who are different from me. - [Blerta Tuci](https://ecas.org/testimonies/blerta-tuci/) - I took part in a two-day training in Communication and EU Fundraising for civil society organizations organised by ECAS in Tirana. The training fitted perfectly with my day-to-day work in identifying the best communications techniques to approach targeted audiences. Additionally it highly improved my skills in terms of dealing with the most relevant EU funding programs. - [Elisabeth Victoria Lasky](https://ecas.org/testimonies/elisabeth-victoria-lasky/) - As an EVS for 10 months at ECAS I had the chance to be at the centre of the policy-making scene and learn a lot about how policies are born. I also learnt how much citizens matter for the future of the EU and how little they know about it. Six years later, I work both ## Tools - [Identifying Good Practices and Policy Approaches for Implementing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights](https://ecas.org/tools/identifying-good-practices-and-policy-approaches-for-implementing-the-eu-charter-of-fundamental-rights-2/) - This report identifies and analyses promising practices and policy approaches that support the effective implementation, visibility, and application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a binding instrument of EU law. - [Identifying good practices and policy approaches for implementing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights](https://ecas.org/tools/identifying-good-practices-and-policy-approaches-for-implementing-the-eu-charter-of-fundamental-rights/) - This report assesses the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in Bulgaria, identifying key needs, gaps, and areas for improvement to strengthen its effective application. - [Needs Assessment Report – Bulgaria](https://ecas.org/tools/needs-assessment-report-bulgaria/) - This report assesses the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in Bulgaria, identifying key needs, gaps, and areas for improvement to strengthen its effective application. - [Needs Assessment Report – Greece](https://ecas.org/tools/needs-assessment-report-greece/) - This report assesses the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in Greece, identifying key needs, gaps, and areas for improvement to strengthen its effective application. - [Needs Assessment Report – Romania](https://ecas.org/tools/needs-assessment-report-romania/) - This report assesses the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in Romania, identifying key needs, gaps, and areas for improvement to strengthen its effective application. - [Digital Inclusion Guidelines](https://ecas.org/tools/digital-inclusion-guidelines/) - This report provides a set of digital Inclusion guidelines on five focus areas: Digital Democracy, Digital Economy, Digital Safeguards, Digital Rights, and Digital Education. - [European Dystopia](https://ecas.org/tools/european-dystopia_citizens/) - This resource highlights citizens' worries ahead of the EU elections and offers recommendations to improve democratic participation. - [How to address disinformation?](https://ecas.org/tools/how-to-address-disinformation/) - This resource contains practical tips of how to tackle disinformation. - [Crowdsourcing and Policy-Making in Europe – Lunch & Learn!](https://ecas.org/tools/crowdsourcing-and-policy-making-in-europe-lunch-learn/) - On July 2 2024, the INDEU project conducted a training session on the importance of crowdsourcing in fostering direct participation in decision-making processes. - [ECAS Podcast: "Europeans on the Vote"](https://ecas.org/tools/ecas-podcast-europeans-on-the-vote/) - This podcast series aims to encourage and boost EU citizens’ political participation in elections, including EU mobile citizens. - [Go Vote for European Values](https://ecas.org/tools/go-vote/) - This campaign was crafted in collaboration with the Civil Society Hub, equipping CSOs to engage undecided voters and youth to champion European values in the upcoming elections. - [Online Course: Crowdsourcing for Civil Society Organisations](https://ecas.org/tools/online-course-crowdsourcing-for-civil-society-organisations/) - This online course will teach you the basics of crowdsourcing and how it drives citizen engagement. - [Online Course: Political Rights of EU Citizens](https://ecas.org/tools/online-course-political-rights-of-eu-citizens/) - This online course provides recommendations and best practices to promote the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections. - [ECAS Voting App](https://ecas.org/tools/ecas-voting-app/) - Visit our app to get information on how to vote for the European Parliament Elections. - [Framework for civil society action against disinformation](https://ecas.org/tools/framework-for-civil-society-action-against-disinformation/) - Read the lessons learnt from CSO anti-disinformation campaigns in Central and Eastern Europe, supported by ECAS in 2022-2023. - [Debunking of Fake Narratives: A step by step approach](https://ecas.org/tools/debunking-of-fake-narratives-a-step-by-step-approach/) - This resource teaches you how to debunk a fake narrative. ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://ecas.org/category/uncategorized/) - [EU Rights](https://ecas.org/category/eu-rights/) - [Publications](https://ecas.org/category/publications/) - [News](https://ecas.org/category/news/) - [Events](https://ecas.org/category/events/) - [European Democracy](https://ecas.org/category/european-democracy/) - [Studies](https://ecas.org/category/publications/studies/) - [Training](https://ecas.org/category/training/) - [Positions](https://ecas.org/category/publications/positions/) - [Reports](https://ecas.org/category/publications/reports/) - [ECAS in the News](https://ecas.org/category/publications/ecas-in-the-news/) - [Media Briefs](https://ecas.org/category/publications/media-briefs/) - [Political Participation](https://ecas.org/category/political-participation/) - [European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)](https://ecas.org/category/european-citizens-initiative-eci/) - [Freedom of Movement](https://ecas.org/category/freedom-of-movement/) - [Project Management](https://ecas.org/category/project-management/) - [Digital Transformation](https://ecas.org/category/digital-transformation/) - [Digital Democracy](https://ecas.org/category/digital-democracy/) - [Your Europe Advice (YEA)](https://ecas.org/category/your-europe-advice-yea/) - [Interviews](https://ecas.org/category/interviews/) - [ECAS grantees](https://ecas.org/category/ecas-grantees/) - [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility](https://ecas.org/category/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility/) - [Crowdsourcing](https://ecas.org/category/crowdsourcing/) - [Disinformation](https://ecas.org/category/disinformation/) - [Central and Eastern Europe](https://ecas.org/category/central-and-eastern-europe/) - [Country Report](https://ecas.org/category/country-report/) - [EU Level](https://ecas.org/category/eu-level/) ## Tags - [Media Brief](https://ecas.org/tag/media-brief/) - [Digital Democracy](https://ecas.org/tag/digital-democracy/) - [European Court of Justice](https://ecas.org/tag/european-court-of-justice/) - [Free Movement](https://ecas.org/tag/free-movement/) - [European Citizens' Initiative](https://ecas.org/tag/european-citizens-initiative/) - [Balkans](https://ecas.org/tag/balkans/) - [European Commission](https://ecas.org/tag/european-commission/) - [European Parliament](https://ecas.org/tag/european-parliament/) - [EU Migration](https://ecas.org/tag/eu-migration/) - [Participatory Democracy](https://ecas.org/tag/participatory-democracy/) - [Civic Engagement](https://ecas.org/tag/civic-engagement/) - [Decision Making](https://ecas.org/tag/decision-making/) - [Democracy](https://ecas.org/tag/democracy/) - [Your Europe Advice](https://ecas.org/tag/your-europe-advice/) - [EU Institutions](https://ecas.org/tag/eu-institutions/) - [Schengen](https://ecas.org/tag/schengen/) - [Beyond the EU](https://ecas.org/tag/beyond-the-eu/) - [Triple A](https://ecas.org/tag/triple-a/) - [Migration](https://ecas.org/tag/migration/) - [Free Legal Aid](https://ecas.org/tag/free-legal-aid/) - [Refugee Crisis](https://ecas.org/tag/refugee-crisis/) - [Civil Society](https://ecas.org/tag/civil-society/) - [Crowdsourcing](https://ecas.org/tag/crowdsourcing/) - [Brexit](https://ecas.org/tag/brexit/) - [Political Participation](https://ecas.org/tag/political-participation/) - [EU Citizens](https://ecas.org/tag/eu-citizens/) - [Freedom of Movement](https://ecas.org/tag/freedom-of-movement/) - [Populism](https://ecas.org/tag/populism/) - [Air Quality](https://ecas.org/tag/air-quality/) - [Inclusion and Diversity](https://ecas.org/tag/inclusion-and-diversity/) - [Project proposal writing and EU Funds](https://ecas.org/tag/project-proposal-writing-and-eu-funds/) - [Digital Transformation](https://ecas.org/tag/digital-transformation/) - [State of the Union](https://ecas.org/tag/state-of-the-union/) - [Other](https://ecas.org/tag/other/) - [Anniversary Awards](https://ecas.org/tag/anniversary-awards/) - [European Citizenship Innovation](https://ecas.org/tag/european-citizenship-innovation/) - [disinformation](https://ecas.org/tag/disinformation/) - [Training](https://ecas.org/tag/training/) - [EU rights](https://ecas.org/tag/eu-rights/) - [MoU](https://ecas.org/tag/mou/) - [Partnership](https://ecas.org/tag/partnership/) - [Media](https://ecas.org/tag/media/) - [policy briefs](https://ecas.org/tag/policy-briefs/) - [voting](https://ecas.org/tag/voting/) - [open government](https://ecas.org/tag/open-government/) - [Radio](https://ecas.org/tag/radio/) - [Burgas](https://ecas.org/tag/burgas/) ## Groups - [Board](https://ecas.org/group/board/) - [Board member](https://ecas.org/group/board-member/) - [Board member|Team](https://ecas.org/group/board-memberteam/) - [Team](https://ecas.org/group/team/) ## Member type - [Organisations](https://ecas.org/member-type/organisations/) ## Vacancy type - [Tenders](https://ecas.org/vacancy-type/tenders/) ## Countries - [Belgium](https://ecas.org/country/belgium/) - [Ireland](https://ecas.org/country/ireland/) - [Greece](https://ecas.org/country/greece/) - [Luxemburg](https://ecas.org/country/luxemburg/) - [France](https://ecas.org/country/france/) - [Portugal](https://ecas.org/country/portugal/) - [Spain](https://ecas.org/country/spain/) - [Italy](https://ecas.org/country/italy/) - [Lithuania](https://ecas.org/country/lithuania/) - [Romania](https://ecas.org/country/romania/) - [All EU Member States](https://ecas.org/country/all-eu-member-states/) - [Germany](https://ecas.org/country/germany/) - [Sweden](https://ecas.org/country/sweden/) ## Year - [2018](https://ecas.org/training-year/2018/) - [2019](https://ecas.org/training-year/2019/) - [2022](https://ecas.org/training-year/2022/) - [2023](https://ecas.org/training-year/2023/) - [2024](https://ecas.org/training-year/2024/) - [2025](https://ecas.org/training-year/2025/) - [2020](https://ecas.org/training-year/2020/) - [2021](https://ecas.org/training-year/2021/) - [2026](https://ecas.org/training-year/2026/) ## Target Groups - [Civil Society Professionals](https://ecas.org/target-group/civil-society-professionals/) - [Activists](https://ecas.org/target-group/activists/) - [Civil Servants](https://ecas.org/target-group/civil-servants/) - [Citizens](https://ecas.org/target-group/citizens/) - [YEA Legal Experts](https://ecas.org/target-group/yea-legal-experts/) - [Policy-makers](https://ecas.org/target-group/policy-makers/) - [Academics](https://ecas.org/target-group/academics/) - [Decision-makers](https://ecas.org/target-group/decision-makers/) - [Students](https://ecas.org/target-group/students/) - [ECI organisers](https://ecas.org/target-group/eci-organisers/) - [Rights’ Advice organisations](https://ecas.org/target-group/rights-advice-organisations/) ## Training Type - [In-person](https://ecas.org/training-type/in-person/) - [Webinars](https://ecas.org/training-type/webinars/) - [E-learning](https://ecas.org/training-type/e-learning/) - [Print and other resources](https://ecas.org/training-type/print-and-other-resources/) ## Event Categories - [EU Rights](https://ecas.org/events/category/eu-rights/) - [European Democracy](https://ecas.org/events/category/european-democracy/) ## Contribution Types - [community](https://ecas.org/contribution-type/community/)