Does the European Union cost too much?
The budget allows the financing of European programmes (Erasmus +, Horizon 2020, Europe Creative, Europe for Citizens), thus helping millions of students, researchers, companies, cities, regions. I.e. : “Erasmus +” contributes to the mobility and reduction of youth unemployment by offering to more than 4 millions of Europeans the possibility to study, train, to gain knowledge and experience and to volunteer abroad.
The budget allows the financing of European programmes (Erasmus +, Horizon 2020, Europe Creative, Europe for Citizens), thus helping millions of students, researchers, companies, cities, regions. I.e. : “Erasmus +” contributes to the mobility and reduction of youth unemployment by offering to more than 4 millions of Europeans the possibility to study, train, to gain knowledge and experience and to volunteer abroad.
Does the European Union cost too much?
The EU budget makes it possible to respond to emergencies its Member states may face.
For instance, after the acceleration of terrorist attacks in Europe, the EU decided to help its Member States in countering terrorism, a field belonging to national competences but that necessitated a common action from all the Member States. Then, via the fund for internal security, the EU supports the management of external borders, VISA policies and police cooperation at the European scale. This fund also finances the new European border agency.
The EU budget makes it possible to respond to emergencies its Member states may face.
For instance, after the acceleration of terrorist attacks in Europe, the EU decided to help its Member States in countering terrorism, a field belonging to national competences but that necessitated a common action from all the Member States. Then, via the fund for internal security, the EU supports the management of external borders, VISA policies and police cooperation at the European scale. This fund also finances the new European border agency.
Does the European Union cost too much?
94% of the EU budget directly finances public policies intended to citizens, regions, cities, farmers…
Only 6% of the EU budget is used for the administrative functioning of the European institutions.
94% of the EU budget directly finances public policies intended to citizens, regions, cities, farmers…
Only 6% of the EU budget is used for the administrative functioning of the European institutions.
Does the European Union cost too much?
The European budget allows the European Union to act for more than half a billion of European citizens in the 28 Member States.
The European budget allows the European Union to act for more than half a billion of European citizens in the 28 Member States.
Does the European Union cost too much?
The budget of the European Union provides an economy of scale, namely: it is this budget that allows the European Union to finance large projects a Member State alone could not develop by itself.
For instance, the Juncker plan, which plans to invest 500 billions of euros in the digital field and the energy transition, is helping the development of these sectors but also aims at creating about 1,3 billions of work until 2018.
The budget of the European Union provides an economy of scale, namely: it is this budget that allows the European Union to finance large projects a Member State alone could not develop by itself.
For instance, the Juncker plan, which plans to invest 500 billions of euros in the digital field and the energy transition, is helping the development of these sectors but also aims at creating about 1,3 billions of work until 2018.
Does the European Union cost too much?
The European budget is modest: it represents about 155 billions of euros per year, which is less than the annual national budget of several Member States (the one in Belgium for instance was about 155 billions of euros in 2016).
This means that each Member States participate at a level of 1% of its GDP. It is also estimated that every European citizen contributes to about 85 cents of euros every day to the EU budget.
The European budget is modest: it represents about 155 billions of euros per year, which is less than the annual national budget of several Member States (the one in Belgium for instance was about 155 billions of euros in 2016).
This means that each Member States participate at a level of 1% of its GDP. It is also estimated that every European citizen contributes to about 85 cents of euros every day to the EU budget.
On participatory democracy in Eastern Europe
On September 29th and 30th, 2020, a conference was held respectively in Moldova and in Ukraine under the joint partnership of ALDA, the Kettering Foundation and KAS – Konrad Adenauer Stiftung on the topic of “Empowering local authorities and civil society to deliver solutions with participative democracy: implementation in Moldova and Ukraine”.
Both online events saw the participation of ALDA Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida and of Eastern Partnership Coordinator, Alexandru Coica and his colleague Viorica Bulat, as well as of the delegates of the local LDAs and of a selected number of key stakeholders involved in the research project behind the matter at discussion.
“It was a small project, but with great results […] and we invite you to make such projects again in the future” commented the Mayor of Cimislia (Moldova), Mr Sergiu Andronachi; “The report aptly shows the current situation, it is well-prepared and well thought out and we are waiting to have Ms. Antonella as a guest again“. The representative of the Comrat Town Hall, Ms. Irina Cara took the occasion to congratulate the work as well: “Thank you for this project: it was a wonderful workshop in Comrat, we received a lot of information“.
The Deputy of the Dnipro City Council, Mr Artiom Pavlov, similarly expressed his enthusiasm, highlighting that the cooperation with ALDA is extremely important for the Dnipropetrovosk region and remarking that “We appreciate this fruitful cooperation and hope to demonstrate a closer approximation of the local government in Ukraine to the high European standards in the nearest future“.
"It was a small project, but with great results [...] and we invite you to make such projects again in the future!"
On ALDA’s side, it was highlighted that local public administrations must engage all citizens even if they seem like a weak link, as this creates the critical mass for cooperation that is necessary to produce change; and encouragement was provided as per the immense work that can be done together for the better of both local authorities and citizens.
All in all, the events were fruitful and satisfactory: in the words of Alexandru Coica, “The most important thing for us was to hear that the comprehensive research work that was done is useful for local authorities and grassroot civil society. I was delighted to hear that all engaged stakeholders will use the recommendations to improve their work“.
We’re very much looking forward to continuing these wonderful collaborations in the Eastern Partnership!
On September 29th and 30th, 2020, a conference was held respectively in Moldova and in Ukraine under the joint partnership of ALDA, the Kettering Foundation and KAS – Konrad Adenauer Stiftung on the topic of “Empowering local authorities and civil society to deliver solutions with participative democracy: implementation in Moldova and Ukraine”.
Both online events saw the participation of ALDA Secretary General, Antonella Valmorbida and of Eastern Partnership Coordinator, Alexandru Coica and his colleague Viorica Bulat, as well as of the delegates of the local LDAs and of a selected number of key stakeholders involved in the research project behind the matter at discussion.
“It was a small project, but with great results […] and we invite you to make such projects again in the future” commented the Mayor of Cimislia (Moldova), Mr Sergiu Andronachi; “The report aptly shows the current situation, it is well-prepared and well thought out and we are waiting to have Ms. Antonella as a guest again“. The representative of the Comrat Town Hall, Ms. Irina Cara took the occasion to congratulate the work as well: “Thank you for this project: it was a wonderful workshop in Comrat, we received a lot of information“.
The Deputy of the Dnipro City Council, Mr Artiom Pavlov, similarly expressed his enthusiasm, highlighting that the cooperation with ALDA is extremely important for the Dnipropetrovosk region and remarking that “We appreciate this fruitful cooperation and hope to demonstrate a closer approximation of the local government in Ukraine to the high European standards in the nearest future“.
"It was a small project, but with great results [...] and we invite you to make such projects again in the future!"
On ALDA’s side, it was highlighted that local public administrations must engage all citizens even if they seem like a weak link, as this creates the critical mass for cooperation that is necessary to produce change; and encouragement was provided as per the immense work that can be done together for the better of both local authorities and citizens.
All in all, the events were fruitful and satisfactory: in the words of Alexandru Coica, “The most important thing for us was to hear that the comprehensive research work that was done is useful for local authorities and grassroot civil society. I was delighted to hear that all engaged stakeholders will use the recommendations to improve their work“.
We’re very much looking forward to continuing these wonderful collaborations in the Eastern Partnership!
Fostering participatory democracy in Eastern Europe: to be continued!
On Wednesday 7th October 2020, took place the final conference of the project “Empowering Local Authorities & Civil Society to Deliver Solutions with Participatory Democracy”, organised in Brussels and streamed online for all participants.
On Wednesday 7th October 2020, took place the final conference of the project “Empowering Local Authorities & Civil Society to Deliver Solutions with Participatory Democracy”, organised in Brussels and streamed online for all participants.
ALDA Governing Board’s members 2016-2020: Thank you!
As previously announced, the ALDA General Assembly which took place on Friday October 9th, 2020, marked a crucial moment in the history of the Association.
As previously announced, the ALDA General Assembly which took place on Friday October 9th, 2020, marked a crucial moment in the history of the Association.
