A presentation from the European Year of Citizens 2013 launch event discussing economic, social and political citizenship. The presentation was given by David Kerr from the Citizenship foundation. Find out more about the NCVO's European policy work: http://europeanfundingnetwork.eu

1. Economic, Social and
Political Citizenship: A
Coherent Whole
Working Group 2
European Year Citizens Alliance
(EYCA 2013)

2. David Kerr
Citizenship Foundation
Director of Educational
Programmes
Visiting Professor of Citizenship
Birkbeck College
University of London
david.kerr@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk

3. WG2 – Economic, Social, Political
Citizenship: A Coherent Whole
Three Topics of focus:
1.Social dimension of Europe 2020 Strategy
2.Active inclusion and social rights
3.Non discrimination/equal treatment

4. Topic 1: Social dimension of Europe
2020 Strategy
Sub-topics:
a.Social provisions of Lisbon-Treaty and
Europe 2020 Strategy
b.Review on employment and social
developments in Europe
c.New Social Pact in Europe
d.Obstacles towards mobility

5. Topic 2: Active inclusion and social
rights
Sub-topics:
a.Social and public services
b.Minimum income schemes
c.Social rights
d.Investment in formal, non-formal and
informal education and training for life
e.Empowerment of excluded people

6. Topic 3: Non discrimination/ equal
treatment
Sub-topics:
a.Fundamental rights and Anti-
Discrimination
b.Right to associate and Active Social
Citizenship
c.Participatory democracy for social change

7. WG2 - Workplan
Three face to face meetings – one per theme
1.March 2013 – Social dimension of Europe
2020 Strategy
2.July 2013 – Active inclusion and social
rights
3.Sept 2013 – Non discrimination/ equal
treatment
Recommendations produced Oct 2013

8. WG2 – Proposed UK Contribution
At each face to face meeting contribute on:
1.Obstacles or gaps in public policies which
hamper active inclusion of citizens as well
as good practices
2.The political framework – facilitator or
not?
3.Recommendations (suggestions,
proposals)
In advance – 10-15 min powerpoint

9. WG2 – March Meeting
At face to face meeting contribute on:
1.How to strengthen the social dimension of
European governance?
2.How to achieve Europe 2020 target of
lifting 20 million people out of poverty and
social exclusion?
3.How to enhance active participation
through social inclusion?

10. Participatory Citizenship
in Europe Study
A contribution to Working
Group 2

11. Objectives
 Map the concepts, policies, practices and level of
Participatory Citizenship across Europe
 Identify barriers and facilitators to encourage
more citizen engagement in Europe
 Inform the development of European policy and
funding programmes in particular the:
 the 2013 European Year of Citizens
 2014-2020 Europe for Citizens Programme
 2014 European Parliament elections

12. Reports
 Contextual – Concepts and definition
 Analytic – maps current state of play on policy and
engagement in Europe
 Good Practice – identifies key features of effective
practice
 Study Summary and Policy Recommendation -
identifies an EC policy strategy on Participatory Citizenship
 Reports located on Europe for Citizens website:
http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/about-the-europe-for-citizens-
programme/studies/index_en.htm

13. Definition of Participatory Citizenship
•‘Participation in civil society, community
and/or political life, characterized by mutual
respect and non-violence and in accordance
with human rights and democracy’.
Definition broadly blends the practices of
different models of citizenship across Europe
All actions must be underpinned by the values of
human rights and democracy

14. • Countries looking inwards at internal concerns
• Policy focus entirely on economic competitiveness
• Reduction in funding
• All levels national, local and private
• All dimensions of citizenship
Barriers: Effects of Economic Recession
‘there are difficulties for national and local
NGOs to become engaged at the European
level when they are focused on finding
funding merely to keep their organisations
afloat’

15. Economic competitiveness
Participatory Citizenship relates to economic
competitiveness and social cohesion indicators
Focusing only on the short term economic imperative
may miss the broader and long term perspective
 Participatory activities can provide a useful balance
particularly in periods of high unemployment
‘Countries that are highly competitive tend
also to be highly participatory with high
levels of social cohesion i.e. Nordic
countries’

16. Effective strategies
 Participatory Citizenship is primarily a learnt
activity
 Learning in all it diverse forms (from
discussing politics with friends to formal
education) relates to Participatory Citizenship
 Learning improves quality of Participatory
Citizenship (enhancing civic competences:
knowledge, skills, attitudes & values)

17. European Union strategy
 balanced in promoting both political participation
as well as voluntary and community action in civil
society
 targeted in recognising and responding to the
impact of the economic crisis at national and local
level in member states
 sufficiently flexible and long-term to
encourage and promote collaborative working
between EU institutions, member states and EU
citizens

18. European Year of Citizens 2013
• A bottom-up approach with citizens involved in
constructing and developing the programme and activities
• Opportunity for the EU institutions to listen to Citizens
• Provide momentum for new Europe for Citizens
Programme and EP elections
• Increase profile of Participatory Citizenship as a policy
priority
• Needs sufficient funding to turn aims into reality for
citizens
• Respond to the needs and interests of European
citizens

19. European Elections 2014
Explain to citizens why it is important that they
vote:
not only to defend their individual legal rights
ensure the continued legitimacy of the EU and
its institutions
to show their support for the common values
of democracy, human rights, social cohesion and
tolerance that underpin European citizenship

20. EU 2020
Smart Sustainable & Inclusive Growth
 Balance in policy emphasis between
Participatory Citizenship, social cohesion &
economic competitiveness so that values &
practices of democracy flourish
 Long term challenges of competitiveness &
climate change should be grounded in active
involvement of and participation of citizens
in order to safeguard future of democracy in
Europe

21. • Reports available on Europe for Citizens website:
http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/
• about-the-europe-for-citizens-
programme/studies/index_en.htm
• Contact details:
• Bryony Hoskins, University of Southampton
• B.Hoskins@soton.ac.uk
• David Kerr, Citizenship Foundation
David.Kerr@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk