For a Europe made by citizensWhat does it mean to be a European citizen today? How can we encorage the yearning for Europe and promote active European citizenship? How should Europe be lived? These are some of the questions addressed during the “European Civic days”, organized on September 4-6 in La Rochelle (France) by the European Civic Forum. In Cooperation with the EU Commission, the Forum intends to involve citizens and associations active in different sectors, especially the youth sector, in three major key-terms for continental integration. These are: mobility, dialogue and participation. “In order to promote a civic and popular participation for Europe – the Days’ organizers declared – the Forum proposes to engage in a debate focused on three main areas viewed as the dynamics of active citizen participation, During the seminars, the members of different associations are encouraged to share their practices and their approach, conveying concrete examples of their activities”. The “Civic Days” were attended by over one-thousand participants from different EU Countries. A number of personalities were invited to deliver their contribution in La Rochelle. The welcoming address was pronounced by Jàn Figel’, EU Commissioner responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth. Speakers include, among others, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, French Minister for youth activity and associations. Information regarding the Days is on-line at www.civic-forum.eu. Initiatives for the disabled: a competitionThe French Presidency-in-Office of the EU, in cooperation with the national information Office on teaching and formation (Onisep), will promote the international competition “Handinnov Europe 2008”. The purpose it to award “exemplary initiatives conducted in every Member State of the European Union for disabled youth”. Applications ought to be sent in by September 25. The prize-giving ceremony will take place in Paris at the end of November, on the occasion of a gathering of winners from all over Europe. “This fifth edition of the Handinnov competition is directed to each of the Twenty-Seven EU Countries. It is promoted by a number of personalities, official partners and by the European Disability Forum”. Projects, experiences and “good practices” will be taken into account provided they focus on “an exemplary or innovative initiative aimed at improving the integration of handicapped youth in the education, employment or merely civic environments”. Candidates include associations, school establishments, local bodies, NGOs, and associations that have been legally registered in one of the Member States. An international jury will appoint a winner for each country. Trans-national projects will be equally awarded. For information on the competition log on: www.onisep.fr/handinnov/ Eurostat, more deaths than births in the EU starting in 2015In the period comprised between the years 2008 and 2060 “the annual number of births in the EU27 is expected to continue following a downward trend, while the number of deaths is expected to increase”. From the year 2015 however, “the overall number of deaths will exceed the number of newborn. This will mark the end of demographic growth according to a natural balance”. Eurostat, the statistics office of the European Commission, recently published the results of a survey regarding Member States’ population growth in the next fifty years. However, since these are long-term forecasts, researchers pointed out that “the data is subject to changes”. Nonetheless, the research confirmed that European population will continue ageing and that the demographic future of the continent will increasingly depend on migrations. According to Eurostat, Community citizens will pass from the present 495 million to 521 million in 2035, while a constant decrease will bring figures to drop to 506 million in 2060. As relates to age, those who are over 65 will pass from 17% to 30% of the overall population in 2060. Those over 80 from 4 to 12%. The demographic research underlines “major differences” from one Member State to the next. “Between 2008 and 2060 population is expected to increase in 13 Countries and decrease in 14”. The most outstanding increases are expected to take place in Cyprus (+66%), Ireland (+53%), Luxembourg, United Kingdom and Sweden. The “major decrease” is predicted in Bulgaria (-28%), Latvia (-26%), Lithuania, Romania and Poland.
