Alex Bunten MA Euroculture University of Deusto Bordeaux, March Alex Bunten MA Euroculture University of Deusto Bordeaux, March Citizenship and Town Twinning Erasmus Mundus Thematic Conference Communication: Let's redefine the terms

Alex Bunten3 Overview 1.EU Citizenship - The State of the Art a.Where is it and why isn’t it further? 2.Town Twinning as EU Active Citizenship a.Effective use of European values? 3.Affect on Communication Policy? a.Conclusions 1.EU Citizenship - The State of the Art a.Where is it and why isn’t it further? 2.Town Twinning as EU Active Citizenship a.Effective use of European values? 3.Affect on Communication Policy? a.Conclusions

Alex Bunten4 Workshop 4: Intercultural Communication: Improving our ways of interaction and understanding. -What are the communication challenges of EU citizenship? How to address them? -How does town twinning inform the debate around citizenship and the possibility of a set of common European values? - How should the outcomes of these citizens’ meetings be used in the wider debate? -What are the communication challenges of EU citizenship? How to address them? -How does town twinning inform the debate around citizenship and the possibility of a set of common European values? - How should the outcomes of these citizens’ meetings be used in the wider debate?

Alex Bunten5 How many citizens of the European Union?

Alex Bunten6 How you scored?  78% of EU citizens claim familiarity with the term “ citizen of the European Union ”  41% - say they know its meaning  31% - consider themselves well informed about their rights as citizens of the European Union.  78% of EU citizens claim familiarity with the term “ citizen of the European Union ”  41% - say they know its meaning  31% - consider themselves well informed about their rights as citizens of the European Union.

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9 Citizenship - what is it? Maastricht Treaty Amsterdam Treaty Lisbon Treaty Cinderella Policy? Maastricht Treaty Amsterdam Treaty Lisbon Treaty Cinderella Policy?

Alex Bunten10 EU Rights  freedom of movement and the right of residence within the territory of the Member States;  right to vote and stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament and at municipal elections in the Member State of residence;  right to diplomatic and consular protection;  right of petition to the European Parliament; and  right to refer to the Ombudsman.  freedom of movement and the right of residence within the territory of the Member States;  right to vote and stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament and at municipal elections in the Member State of residence;  right to diplomatic and consular protection;  right of petition to the European Parliament; and  right to refer to the Ombudsman.

Alex Bunten11 Citizenship - Where is it?

Alex Bunten12 EU Duties?  EU Taxes? No..  EU Vote? Not really..  EU Military? Highly unlikely..  EU Taxes? No..  EU Vote? Not really..  EU Military? Highly unlikely..

Alex Bunten13 Citizenship is…  “odd mix of assertion and caution, an expression of both European ambition and member state conservatism.”  Professor Jo Shaw, Edinburgh University  “odd mix of assertion and caution, an expression of both European ambition and member state conservatism.”  Professor Jo Shaw, Edinburgh University

Alex Bunten14 Professor Shaw’s “three priorities for the development of citizenship” 1. “Enhancement of the political element of citizenship, through citizen involvement in the election of the Commission President (e.g. by linking it to European Parliament elections and the campaigns of genuine transnational political parties) and the development of a transnational element of European Parliament elections, e.g. through reserved seats for transnational lists.”

Alex Bunten15 Professor Shaw’s “three priorities for the development of citizenship” 2. “Reshaping the national taxation systems to allow ‘Europeans’ to opt to support specific EU level policies, e.g. to support environmental or sustainable development projects both inside and outside the Union.”

Alex Bunten16 Professor Shaw’s “three priorities for the development of citizenship” 3. “Institutionalisation of the civil dialogue and the participation of civil society in the Open Method of Coordination, to enhance the cross-national transfer of policy best-practice through bottom up pressure…”

Alex Bunten17 EU policy recommendations  Promote Cross-European solidarity as a civic virtue.  Consider to harmonize Citizenship rules in the EU as a way to foster a sense of belonging.  A policy warning: the Union should avoid PR campaigns for Union Citizenship, since the requisite processes take longer time, and obvious PR- measures are likely to backfire in the public eye.  Promote Cross-European solidarity as a civic virtue.  Consider to harmonize Citizenship rules in the EU as a way to foster a sense of belonging.  A policy warning: the Union should avoid PR campaigns for Union Citizenship, since the requisite processes take longer time, and obvious PR- measures are likely to backfire in the public eye.

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Alex Bunten19 What is Twinning? “A twinning is the coming together of two communities seeking, in this way, to take action with a European perspective and with the aim of facing their problems and developing between themselves closer and closer ties of friendship”. Jean Bareth, one of the founders of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) “A twinning is the coming together of two communities seeking, in this way, to take action with a European perspective and with the aim of facing their problems and developing between themselves closer and closer ties of friendship”. Jean Bareth, one of the founders of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

Alex Bunten20 Active Citizens for Europe   Consultation period    Consultation period 

Alex Bunten21 Protocol for Funding Raise people’s awareness of the European Union and reinforce commitment to European integration Bring the citizens of the European Union closer together and increase their sense of joint belonging in Europe Enable the citizens to participate actively in a dialogue on the construction and future of the European Union Create new and strengthen existing links and networks between municipalities in the European Union and in other countries participating in the programme Raise people’s awareness of the European Union and reinforce commitment to European integration Bring the citizens of the European Union closer together and increase their sense of joint belonging in Europe Enable the citizens to participate actively in a dialogue on the construction and future of the European Union Create new and strengthen existing links and networks between municipalities in the European Union and in other countries participating in the programme

Alex Bunten22 Gold Stars - Best practice What they accomplished? How? What this says for citizenship? Communication?

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Alex Bunten24 Affect on Communication Policy?  Acquisition of European languages  Or further promotion of English as the Lingua Franca among citizenry in Europe  This synergy could be better harnessed on the internet  Evaluation  Acquisition of European languages  Or further promotion of English as the Lingua Franca among citizenry in Europe  This synergy could be better harnessed on the internet  Evaluation

Alex Bunten25 Conclusions Virtual Communication Viable measurement Anonymous dissemination of discussed values. Virtual Communication Viable measurement Anonymous dissemination of discussed values.

Alex Bunten MA Euroculture University of Deusto Bordeaux, March Alex Bunten MA Euroculture University of Deusto Bordeaux, March Citizenship and Town Twinning Erasmus Mundus Thematic Conference Communication: Let's redefine the terms