1. In which Europe do I want to live? Youth Speaks 3 rd Meeting of the European Youth in Emilia-Romagna Rimini, 5 th _9 th May 2007

2. The Background: 50 th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome The 25 th of March 1957 took place in the Italian Capital the signature of the Treaty of Rome which marked the birth of the European Economic Community. This is how start the long road to build Europe : from the 6 founders members to a Community counting 27 countries today. Fifty years that have guaranteed to all member countries, conserving for each of them their own cultural and linguistic diversity and their own traditions, peace, freedom, democracy and constitutional state. If the successes have been incomparable, marked by a long period of peace and prosperity, today it needs a new and more efficient EU governance, the European project is living a sensitive transition’s phase : the European Council, the governmental institutions still find difficult to come to a common consensus on how to get the EU out of the remaining uncertainty resulting from France and Netherlands 'No' vote to the Constitutional Treaty.

3. The Context: To resolve this impasse it is necessary to widen the debate about Europe, and to citizens to get involved and speak for themselves, called upon to participate actively to the debate on the future political and institutional set up of the European Union. It needs to be created conditions in order to spread the awareness that the process of integration and enlargement represent an important chance to maintain development and growth on solid bases, to face up together the globalisation’s process, to overcome the today’s contradictions in Europe and between Europe and southern part of the world, to develop politics of inclusion. We want to start again from an European Union which inspires trust and security in its citizens, which dialogues with citizens assuming their views through confrontation and democratic participation.

4. The Context: The diversities within the European Union complete and consolidate national identity, make them participating to the wealth of a common “heritage”, widen the citizens’ horizons and multiply opportunities for the young people. Our interest is to build a new European identity and to look at the process of European integration and at its project. That means above all to take part of this project, to feel completely involved (protagonists and beneficiaries of the taken choices), to contribute to the process of elaboration of policies on: job, social security, economics, environment, terrorism, immigration, poverty. Thus, awareness, participation, transparency have to become the fundamental bases so as to build and to consolidate the European Community.

5. The Context: The aims that we want to follow, start from the wealth of traditions, history, cultures, identities that Europe offers: make of Europe a place of peace, solidarity, tolerance, sustainable development, democracy, dialogue, respect of minorities and social justice. The most fundamental in this process is the contribution of young people, schools and teachers to consolidate a complete and conscious European citizenship. In this frame our work is devoted to create occasions of meetings, debates between young Europeans, to promote moment of participative democracy, common experiences, intercultural dialogues. We believe that Europe needs young people and young people needs Europe because first of all Europe must be a community of values.

6. Objectives: Promote participation of young people into the democratic life and the European project’s construction. Intensify works and exchanges between schools and young Europeans. Promote a culture built on reciprocate knowledge, tolerance and social inclusion; Develop a permanent dialogue between young people and European institutions. Increase the role of teachers and schools in the promotion of European citizenship. Approach to Europe the young people and young Europeans. Consult young people about the development of adapted policies for youth; Promote a feeling of European identity based on its common values, history and culture; Bring back to European institutions the propositions and the thoughts of youth about the future of Europe.

7. Key themes and workshops Globalisation: EU economic, political, educational and cultural policies directed towards competitiveness in the world EU action to protect peace and dialogue between peoples EU aid to population and countries in development EU contribution in the “Millennium Development Goal” objectives, foreign debts, education, equitable trade, fight against famine, poverty and infant mortality, quality of life, fight against illnesses… EU role to fight against the lack of water in the world Solidarity: Fight against social exclusion Fight against racism and xenophobia Development of intercultural and inter religious Dialogue Human rights, minorities rights and equal opportunities for all Relationship between generations Promote education and cultural diversity

8. Key themes and workshops Sustainable development Coordinate Economical and Social Welfare with the environmental and biodiversity exigencies In regards to climate change the emergency of working on new uses of natural resources, energy, transports and waste consuming to prevent against pollution Develop Research and Innovation to create new sustainable products

9. Activities Each twinning schools will choose a determined thematic group to join in on the bases of its specific and own interest and its own school experiences; The twinning schools will agree from each other in the months preceding the events to identify a common road to follow. For each set of themes a distinctive working group will be formed. Helped by a qualified staff, the students will discuss and exchange ideas on the chosen theme before presenting their analysis and conclusions to the representatives the final day.

10. Activities The working groups final debate will be follow by experts from European Commission and European Parliament, Italian Universities, the representatives of Emilia-Romagna Region and European federalist movement. The working groups will nominate spokesman who will expose the resulted propositions and conclusions from their confrontations.

11. The 9 th May day Plenary session: the spokesman will set up the results of the accomplished work; The representatives of Italian local and national authorities together with representatives from the European Commission will be present Other schools from Emilia-Romagna than the twinning schools above mentioned will also participate

12. Who participate Students from 14 to 19 years old from 27 members countries of the European Union, as well as Turkey and Norway. Each of the European delegations will be constituted of 7 persons, an average of 5 students and 2 teachers; for a total of around 200 people. The Italian delegation will be represented by around 20 young people for each of the “nine divided parts” that is to say the “nine provinces” of Emilia-Romagna for a total of around 180/200 people;

13. Anne Frank Project: The Legislative assembly of Emilia-Romagna is partner of the “Free2choose” project proposed by the Anne Frank Foundation of Amsterdam which is presented through “Special shows in the frame of the European Union campaign for democracy following the 60 anniversary of the liberation of Fascism”. In this scope will participate at the foreseen activities of the project which envisage two main activities An international Exhibition “Anne Frank,a history for today” A series of debates titled “Free to choose” which will resume an interactive video show dedicated to actual themes realised by the Home Anne Frank Foundation.

14. Meeting with the teachers: The confrontation between teachers constitute an event of a major importance. The teachers, at a determined time, will mix their previous activities, curriculum, schools programs and best practices to think together about their role and the schools’ one in: Allowing young people to express their own way of solidarity and participation in faced with the phenomenon such as racism and xenophobia. Promoting a better understanding of the diversity of our common European cultural heritage and values; Contributing at the removal of any form of discrimination and at the promotion of equality at all level of the society ;

15. Meeting with the teachers: Introducing the European dimension in the educational programs, required to form an active and responsible citizenship. At the end, the teachers will prepare scopes which will summarize their works and school objectives; At the meetings will participate experts from Socrates national agency and from the European Commission the General Direction “Education and Culture”.

16. Self management Evening An evening will be devoted to an artistic, musical or theatrical performance organised and showed by each delegations, at request.