In the last couple of months, the project’s consortium has organized and implemented several initiatives to strengthen the dynamics of dissemination and, through the presentation of the Intellectual Outputs produced, reach more direct and indirect beneficiaries.
Right after the summer break, the partners met in Seville for the last Transnational Project Meeting where they discussed the development of the project’s activities and results, exchanged views on the situation in their respective home countries and talking together about the finalisation of intellectual outputs. Specifically, dissemination and communication issues were addressed. ALDA and the other partners created a plan for more efficient and effective dissemination of project outputs and management of the Facebook page.
Intellective outputs and interactive platforms for community workers
More recently, in the months of October and November, project’s partners have organized multiplier events in Italy (Lamezia Terme), UK (London) and Greece (Athens) to showcase the results produced. Moreover, the partners have hosted local pilot actions, with community workers, to test the effectiveness and the application of the Intellectual Outputs, in particular the e-Learning Platform for the Upskilling and Empowerment of the Target Group.
Lastly, on November 11th ALDA held an Interactive Webinar, with the collaboration of all partners, to present to a larger online audience the project itself and what has been produced in the last 2 years. The invite to the webinar was shared between ALDA’s and the other partners’ network. In this occasion the consortium was able to engage with associations working in similar fields and dealing with Erasmus+ projects.
The exchange of information and interaction between the participants made these experiences unique and useful for gaining further feedback and to implement the latest changes to the digital education platform.
The project is indeed coming to its finish line but given the great interest in the project we are trying to create all the conditions for a possible follow up and continuation of the collaboration.
On the 4th of April, the Vice-President ALDA Alessandro Perelli and the Director of the International Telematics University UNINETTUNO Professor Maria Amata Garito signed a cooperation agreement between the two institutions and launched their first common project, namely the new edition of the Master on-line in European Law and Policies.
Promoted by the International Telematics University UNINETTUNO in collaboration with the ALDA and the Italian Council of the European Movement. By combining the expertise of the network ALDA in the European context and the experience of UNINETTUNO in distance learning with six faculties and nine master’s degree courses and professional training courses and students from 40 different countries, the new cooperation agreement will lead to the development of other training opportunities tackling European themes and topics. In particular, besides the above mentioned Master, ALDA will develop a series of webinars focused on EU programs and funds, with special reference to the new programming period of the European Commission 2014-2020. Finally, ALDA and UNINETTUNO – through signing the agreement – have expressed their common interest to develop new and innovative transnational projects that are able to combine ALDA and commitment on European issues and the focus of UNINETTUNO on distance education.
The Association of the Local Democracy Agencies, LDA Osijek, LDA Sisak, LDA Verteneglio, Foundation for partnership and civil society development of the Istrian Region, AEGEE- Zagreb, Centre for Civil Initiatives (of the Network CEECN) are the initiators of the Croatian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens 2013. The first meeting took place in Zagreb on the 6th of November and confirmed this formal step. The Croatian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens 2013 will therefore officially registered within the National Platforms Alliances supporting the wide Alliance at the EU level.
The Secretary of ALDA, Ms. Paula Rauzan, Delegate of the LDA Sisak will coordinate the group of initiators. She was also accompanied by the Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida and the Delegate of the LDA Osijek, M. Miljenko Turniski The initiators are now working for launching a vast campaign of mobilisation in Croatia that will engage, before the end of the month, the networks of civil society interested to work for the EYAC 2013. They will be proposed to work together to disseminate the Manifesto at the EU level and probably to adapt it to their national and local situation. It is also proposed to work on working groups and to develop common initiative to include more citizens of Croatia in EU policies. The Croatian Platform will be of particular interest because of the upcoming integration of the country into the EU. The Annual priority 2013 – Year of Citizens – will be then meaningful to launch a debate on European Citizenship for this new EU members. ALDA is also member of the EU steering Committee and Coordinator of WG1, as well as initiator of the Italian Alliance. Next 14th of November will take place in Rome (from 10:30 to 13:30 – Eurispes premises Via Orazio, 31) the second meeting of the partners. In this occasion will be adopted a declaration of intent of the Italian Alliance ECY 2013.
Oriano Otocan, ALDA President, and Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director and member of CIVICUS International Board, will be participating in the 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly (3 – 7 September 2012) in Montreal, Canada. In particular Mrs. Valmorbida will present ALDAs experiences on participatory governance at the workshop on “Good governance through citizen action” that will take place on 5 September (11.00-13.00), after the opening ceremony of the Assembly (9.00-9.30) and the first plenary session (9.30 – 10.45). In the panel also Mrs. Carmen Malena, Canada, Mehr Latif, Programme Manager, Asia Foundation, Pakistan and Mrs. Paola Margarita Q. Deles, Coordinator, People Power Volunteers for Reform, Philippines.
This session will share good practices and lessons in participatory governance from around the world and challenge participants to think beyond traditional forms of protest and activism to less familiar but potentially more impactful practices of ‘critical collaboration’ and participatory governance. As citizens, publicly denouncing injustices in society is an important first step towards seeking change, but it is not enough. Real change comes when citizens not only cry out in the streets, but claim their rightful place as active participants in processes of public governance and decision-making. In recent years, a wide and exciting array of ‘participatory governance’ approaches have been tried and tested around the world. From citizens’ juries, multi-stakeholder dialogues and integrity pacts to participatory budgeting, social audits and community scorecards, citizens and CSOs are creating a multitude of innovative ways to engage in ‘critical collaboration’ with government counterparts. The 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly will focus on defining a new social contract, through discussions on three key themes: changing nations through citizens, building partnerships for social innovation and redefining global governance. The 2012 Assembly will see the launch of a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder process, led by CIVICUS, on defining a new social contract, that will culminate in the presentation of recommendations to the United Nations in 2015. The World Assembly comes at a pivotal moment for citizens to redefine the relationships and conditions we want for a sustainable future in a changing world. Having a role in CIVICUS International Board, for ALDA means taking a further step to bring internationally the cause of its work: to improve citizens’ and civil society’s participation at the local level, working closely with local authorities, for development, democracy and respect of human rights.
CIVICUS Board of Directors has formally communicated that Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, has been welcomed as a new co-opted member of CIVICUS International Board. CIVICUS is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. The term of Antonella Valmorbida Board membership will be one year and three months, until the Board meeting in September 2013, when all of the current Board members’ terms will expire. Among the forthcoming engagements as member of CIVICUS Board is the attendance of the Board meeting in September during the CIVICUS World Assembly in Montreal, 3-7 September 2012.
CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, is an international alliance of members and partners which constitutes an influential network of organisations at the local, national, regional and international levels, and spans the spectrum of civil society. CIVICUS includes the following in its definition of civil society: civil society networks and organisations; trade unions; faith-based networks; professional associations; NGO capacity development organisations; philanthropic foundations and other funding bodies. CIVICUS has worked for nearly two decades to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened. CIVICUS has a vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world. This is based on the belief that the health of societies exists in direct proportion to the degree of balance between the state, the private sector and civil society. CIVICUS provides a focal point for knowledge-sharing, common interest representation, global institution-building and engagement among these disparate sectors. It acts as an advocate for citizen participation as an essential component of governance and democracy worldwide. CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people and it gives expression to the enormous creative energy of the burgeoning sector of civil society.
The itinerary tour “On Albert Londres’ footsteps” will take place in August 2012 in several Balkan countries. This events is dedicated to promote reporting journalism among dispriviledged youth from France and Balkan countries. On 13 June, the France Balkans Network gathered in Saint-Denis, France, to discuss this forthcoming activity of the network. This project is organised within the multilateral decentralised cooperation programme for good governance in South-East Europe supported by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The lead partners are the County Pays Vichy Auvergne and ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies. The main objective of this project is to revive Albert Londres’ (1884-1932) experience, born in Vichy, father of modern journalism and reporting, during his numerous investigation trips in the Balkans at the beginning of the 20th century. His story is aimed at stimulating the taste of adventure, curiosity and openness to other cultures among young people with talent for reporting but who do not have the opportunity to travel much and put their knowledge in reporting. By enabling local authorities, civil society organisations and territories from France and the Balkans to meet and exchange on joint projects, this programme supports the values of peace and intercultural dialogue, as well as promotes European integration of all the countries from South East Europe. Other partners which are involved in this adventure are the Regional Council of Auvergne, the Regional Council of Lower-Normandy, Maison de l’Europe in Caen, the General Council of the Hautes Alpes, CRET Hautes Alpes, the city of Dijon, the City of Saint-Denis and their counterparts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania as well as the Local Democracy Agencies in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, the French and Macedonian ALDA offices as well as two Italian partners. Regional and national journalists and several associations (France Television, the National Association for the promotion and defence of press youth initiative, the Association of European Journalists) are also partners in the operation, which receives funding communities, the MAE, Foundations and probably Europe. Then forty young French and Balkan bloggers, young and amateur journalists aged between 18 and 30, were selected to travel in the Balkans for two weeks and report about the current political, social, economic and environmental situation in the Balkans via different means of reporting (old and new technologies) and reflect upon the overall situation in Europe. In preparation to this meeting, ALDA organised a meeting on 6 June with the Local Democracy Agencies involved in the project.
A meeting of municipalities and communities from the Region of Lower Normandy who cooperate with the Macedonian municipalities will take place on April 25 in Caen. The meeting will gather the officials and representatives from the Lower Normandy communities, but also representatives of the Regional Council of Lower Normandy, as well as representatives of the organisation Horizons Solidaires and the representatives from ALDA Skopje office that are in charge of technical support for the cooperation of cities. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the progress of each municipality in the cooperation and will give an update on administrative and financial matters. They will also discuss the opportunities in establishing new links and introducing other municipalities in the cooperation. One part of the meeting will focus on the tourism component, as a part of the Decentralised cooperation between the Region Lower Normandy and Republic of Macedonia, and on the role of the municipalities from both regions in tourism development. In the framework of the Decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia, there are currently seven active town twining’s, and more pairings are planned in the future. The town twinning segment builds up contacts and friendship with communities from the two territories and promotes better understanding. The Programme for Decentralised cooperation is coordinated by ALDA.
The increased involvement of Local Authorities (LAs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in EU development policy generates the need for the establishment of a new alliance among them in order to capitalise and improve their experiences and methods of actions. On 28th of March 2012, in the Committee of the Regions premises in Brussels, will be launch WTD – Working Together for Development with the International Conference ”Local authorities and civil society: a partnership for development”.
During the last two decades, LAs gained a significant expertise in terms of conflict prevention, decentralisation and confidence building in development, revealing themselves as real catalysts for change. In strong cooperation with CSOs, LAs confirmed decentralised cooperation methodology as one of the most relevant tools to promote a shared and bottom-up approach to development, inside and outside Europe. ALDA, which has been one of the first European actors promoting this practice through the network of Local Democracy Agencies, is launching a new alliance between LAs and CSOs interested in having a voice heard in Europe as for policy making about development cooperation. We will be pleased to involve your institution or organisation in this new challenging European endeavour, thus the president of ALDA is honoured to invite you all in Brussels. The Conference will gather the main European stakeholders in the field of development and aims at debating on the opportunities LAs have to work together with CSOs to foster a bottom up approach to development and to plan a join strategy to make their efforts more efficient. WTD, Working Together for Development, is a multi-annual development alliance granted within the framework of the European Commission NSA & LA Programme in the Objective III. It has been conceived by ALDA in cooperation with 21 international partners and associates coming from 16 different countries from enlarged the wider Europe. It involves both Associations of Local Authorities and NGO networks, and aims at improving their capacities to act as development agents inside and outside Europe, in partnership with EU and national institutions. WTD adopts a multi-stakeholder approach and focuses on creating strong partnerships between Local Authorities and NGOs. It has a special particular focus on Eastern and South Eastern Europe.
“The European Year of Citizens, suggested by the European Commission for the 2013, today focused on rights, mostly on right to move and work in the Union, should have a wider perspective, and promote European citizenship and identity, including social and cultural aspects”. This is the main proposal of ALDA about the EYC 2013, expressed during the public hearing promoted by the European Economic and Social Committee, in Brussels. The European Economic and Social Committee is drawing up an opinion on the proposal of the European Commission and would like to give every European citizen, NGO, enterprise, trade union etc. an opportunity to contribute to its opinion, which will be sent to the European Parliament, Commission and Council once it has been adopted. A first NGOs meeting was held in Brussels in EESC on the 27th of January and ALDA was represented by Mr. Marco Boaria. Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director, attended to the public hearing that was held the day before. “We are interested in an Alliance which main aims should be promoting the participation of a wide spectrum of civil society organisations working to promote European citizenship and implement the European Year of Citizens 2013. ALDA supports the idea of organising quickly “decentralised” groups of support at the national level”, stated Mrs. Valmorbida. ALDA think that the activities of the “year” should be done even more on new members States, future member countries (those of the Enlargement process), and the countries of the ENPI Interregional Programme, since they are the direct beneficiaries of the effects as neighbours of Europe. ALDA proposes that the programme of the 2013 European Year of Citizens works mainly with small and local events and not only focusing on high level discussions, engaging civil society and local authorities and promoting an open debate on the future of participation mechanisms to strengthen European identity and The European Project. ALDA proposes also to reach political objectives in terms of citizens’ participation (and mechanisms for facilitating this) with legislative initiatives, best practices at the community level, etc. with the EYAC 2013. The group, in preparing the Year, should set these high objectives, planning the Year in this direction, considering the upcoming European Parliament Elections in 2014. For further information please visit the EESC website
LDAs Mostar and Central and Southern Serbia – Niš signed a partnership agreement with the Association of Fenomena from Kraljevo (Serbia) for the implementation of project “Promotion of the European Charter for equality between women and men at the local level”, during the first project meeting that took place on 11-12 January 2012. The Project, funded by the European Commission under the IPA Civil Society Facility: Partnership Actions-Empowerment of Women, will be implemented during the 2012. The Association Fenomenon, as the leading organisation in the project, will implement the activities in cooperation with other organisations: Centre for Local Democracy LDA from Nis, Serbia; ANIMA – Center for Women and Peace Education from Kotor, Montenegro, Association of Citizens for Local Democracy Agency Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina and The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The overall project objective is to contribute to the development of policies, measures and budgeting to improve gender equality in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The specific objective is to create conditions for development of policies, measures and budgeting to improve gender equality, development of local action plans to implement the European Charter for equality in cities and municipalities participating in the project.
The celebration for the 15th anniversary of the LDA of Sisak (HR) coincides, for a not accidental case, with the eve of Croatian access in the big European family, and the awarding of the “12 stars label” to the Municipality for its efforts in ELDW, the European local democracy week, by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The official celebration will take place the 4th of November, with an international conference on “The Road of Croatia towards the EU: the role of Croatian Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs)”, organised in the framework of the ELDW, ) by the LDA of Sisak, in cooperation with ALDA, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the CoE and the the Municipality of Sisak (9.00-13.30 City Hall Sisak). The Conference will be attended by many national and international experts and representatives of European and national institutions as well. Among them Ms Barbara Toce, Member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Vice Mayor of Pedaso (Italy), Ambassador Henrik Ofstad, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Zagreb, Ambassador Paul Vandoren, Head of the EU Delegation to Croatia, Mr. Dinko Pintarić, Mayor of Sisak, Mr Per Vinther, President of ALDA. In these 15 years, starting from the ruins of the conflict, the LDA has been a promoter of many initiatives whose aim was primarily to promote the participation of citizens and their associations and to strengthen the democratic debate with local authorities. These are the values which Croatia has signed up to get access to the European community and some credit goes also to the work done by the ADL of Sisak. During last 15 years LDA Sisak has implemented more than 100 projects that have directly involved over 15.000 people. Established in 1996 as a pilot project of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe and since 2006 working as a domestic organisation, Local Democracy Agency Sisak enforced itself as one of the key actors in civil society development in Sisak and Sisačko-Moslavačka County. From its very beginnings LDA Sisak is implementing projects aiming to protect human rights and democratic society development, promotes values of tolerance and non-discrimination, multiculturalism, cooperation, partnership and active citizenship. In addition to the international conference, Sisak was selected by ALDA to host the Annual LDAs Delegates meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Lead Partners Representatives of the LDAs (3 – 5 November). The Association of LDAs is confident that the regular meetings and discussions among the Delegates and the Lead Partners of the LDAs could contribute to the development of all the network of the Agencies, in particular with regards the concept of partnership in the framework of the multilateral decentralised cooperation and the area of intervention and interest of each LDA.
The new Local Democracy Agency Armenia will open on 28th of October in Gyumri. It is the second LDA in the South Caucasus area and the thirteenth LDA opened by the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. “Decentralisation of power and the development of administrative capacities at the local level, together with a capable and vivid civil society, represent a fundamental step in the process of democratisation, stability and development of Armenia”, says ALDA President, Per Vinther. On occasion of the official opening ceremony, ALDA organises a conference to gather Local Authorities, NGOs, citizens, and international representatives that are actively involved in local governance issues to discuss and learn about best practices of involving citizens in public life. The opening conference will take place in the City Hall of Gyumri and will be also be part of the European Week of Local Democracy.
In an effort to support the process of democratisation, stability and development of Armenia ALDA and the Congress decided to establish the Local Democracy Agency in the country. The opening plan has been developing since 2008. It is a long term project and it will utilise the expertise of ALDA and the other LDAs and the network, which gather about 160 members, including Local Authorities, Associations of Local Authorities and non-governmental organisations, coming from more than 30 countries. Partners of LDA Armenia will come from three countries: the Rhône-Alpes Region (France), the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy), the International Committee For The Development of Peoples CISP (Italy), the Union of Communities of Armenia, the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development (Armenia), the Journalists’ Club Asparez (Armenia), and the Armenian Municipalities of Gyumri, the host city, and Ijevan. The role of the international partners will be to provide core financial support, participate in activities where they have the skills and capacities, to encourage their own partners to participate in the work of the LDA and to promote the work of the LDA in their own community and encourage wider participation. Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia, situated in the North of the country and has been selected as host since it will provide a good basis to allow the LDA to work on a national level. The Municipality of Gyumri provides an office and rooms for the LDA in a building which already hosts other public associations and NGOs in Gyumri. “Furthermore the vibrant civil society in Gyumri and the possibilities to improve the situation for cooperation between civil society and local authorities are also very important factors”, stresses President Per Vinther. “In addition”, says Mr Vinther, “Gyumri is also twinned with the Georgian city Kutaisi which provides a strong basis for developing the cooperation between both cities”. The first LDA in the Caucasus is based in Kutaisi, Georgia since the year 2006. The LDA will facilitate the participation of civil society in the decision-making process at the local level, increase the interest, awareness and capacities of citizens to take part in the decision-making process at the local level and increase the awareness and skills of the local communities and local authorities to address the needs of their citizens. So a practical exercise of policy sharing between citizens and local authorities should also be facilitated. The LDA will support capacity building of civil society and local authorities and it will implement its activities at the local level with trainings, study visits and other participative methods. Acting as a promoter of democracy and local self-government, the Local Democracy Agency will also promote human rights and sustainable development. The realisation of all objectives will be reached by implementing projects with local authorities and NGOs using the international partners support. The LDA will aim to serve as a bridge between Europe and Armenia and will bring Armenian practice to Europe and European experience to Armenia. Finally the LDA will also work to ensure cross border cooperation in South Caucasus and will work to promote peace and understanding in the South Caucasus region. “There are plans to set up an LDA in Azerbaijan in the near future as well. So the LDA in Armenia will also become part of a network of LDAs in South Caucasus that can promote cooperation and mutual understanding between the countries in South Caucasus” announces Per Vinther.
ALDA will take part in the International conference for the European Year of Volunteers on “Italy – Central and South Eastern Europe: Volunteerism and Institutions in comparison”, 7-9 October 2011 – Gorizia (I). Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Director, will take the floor on the last day, after the presentation of the results of the working groups, together with Anica Mikus Kos, Slovenska Filantropija President, Andrea Waxenegger, University of Graz, President EUCEN (European Network of University Centers for Long Life Learning), and Luca Jahier, the Economic and Social Committee, President Group III.
The conference is promoted by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and organised by the regional CSV in collaboration with CSVnet – National Coordination Centres for Voluntary Service; it has also received the patronage of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, European Commission Representation in Italy CEV – European Volunteer Centre, Brussels. The conference will be an opportunity to continue the comparison between volunteerism and institutions in Italy and in Central and South Eastern Europe, focusing on issues such as diversity and social inclusion, young people and participation. The aim is to draw a roadmap for future advocacy activities and common planning. The event represents an important moment to engage and support existing realities of volunteering of those countries which are not members of the European Union yet. The conference will be attended by over 100 Italian and foreign volunteers, institutional representatives and leaders of voluntary organisations, the Centers for Voluntary Service and Volunteer Centers, coming both from Italy and other countries such as Albania, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. The Conference will be opened, the first day, by a plenary session titled: “Which role for volunteering in the Europe of the future”. The second day will be dedicated to working groups, accompanied by the interventions of Italian and foreign associations introduced by the relations of Joachim Ott, Acting Head of Unit, Directorate General Communication, Unit Policy for Citizens of the European Commission, and Martijn Pakker, Director CEV – European Centre for Volunteering.
Starting from July 4 until July 8, 2011, Macedonian and French professionals will work on discovering and practicing the technics of renovation of traditional buildings in Pont Farcy, Lower Normandy. This practical workshop on renovating ancient buildings with natural and ecological materials will be held in the Norman farms and sites, where the experts from the two countries will demonstrate their skills in reconstruction using traditional methods. The experts will work not only on the implementation, but also on the basic theory knowledge regarding preparation of building sites, renovating and constructing stone walls, cob walls, etc. while using the traditional (natural) materials, easy to practice individually. More information on this specific workshop and building heritage activities can be found at www.balkansheritage.eu. This practical workshop is organised in the framework of the Decentralised cooperation between the Lower Normandy region and Republic of Macedonia, in the component 5 – Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage, project coordinated by ALDA. For further information please consult the webpage of the Cooperation http://crbn-mk.courriers.info/
With three days of exhibitions, debates and concerts, the city of Brindisi has commemorated the first landing of Albanian citizens fleeing towards freedom. From 11th to 13th of March was held the exhibition “The hospitable city: Albania – Brindisi twenty years later“. It was March 7th, in 1991, when thousands of Albanians fleeing from a country devastated by a severe economic and political crisis landed in the port of Brindisi.
Twenty years have passed and the city of Brindisi recovered the memory of this historical page, still current. The program, developed through an extensive course of action, has decreased the city in an atmosphere of reflection and commemoration. Moments of entertainment and discussion, including art installations, events of the narrative, allegorical band marches through the streets of the historic center, documentaries and special interest, conference-seminar on immigration and the concert of an artist of great appeal, have read, with the lens of history, those days of March that shook nationally and internationally the public attention.
“The City hospitable” proposed to rediscover a dramatic period in the history of the Balkan country and also the great welcome offered by citizens and institutions in Brindisi, which was able to alleviate the suffering of countless lives embarked on an adventurous journey, revealing an extraordinary spirit of cohesion.
Twenty years later, today those people are integrated and vital into the civil society of the city.
The members of the Governing Board of Asael, the Association of municipalities of Aragon Region (Spain) that was dissolved in late 2009 swept away by a scandal, former President Jesus Alone in the head, will be liable personally for debts left. ALDA, with its other partners, decided to take legal action on the basis of the Spanish Law on Associations (the “Ley Organica 1 / 2002, de 22 de marzo, reguladora del Derecho de Asociacion). “We are forced to choose the legal way -said Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA-because all our efforts to resolve the issue amicably have not been successful. The Aragon institutions we questioned, as Asael was an association of local authorities, ignored our calls or answered that the issue does not concern them. A rubber wall has been raised around Asael and its administrators that were all mayors of Aragon towns”.
But the Spanish Law on Associations is clear and says that administrators are responsible of debts of their Association debts, caused by malicious reasons, and also for culpable negligence, and that they have to pay with their personal assets. “It’s clear-stated the Director of Alda, AntonellaValmorbida- that during the Sol management of Asael, in recent years none of the administrators has exercised effective control, to avoid accumulating debts and that European funds were not used for the purpose for which they were assigned to Asael, to support project activities”.
The projects were developed in the years 2008-2009 and were Bandair, Emanzipar and Eclau. The other ALDA members partners of the project managed by Asael were the province of Reggio Emilia (Italy), the City of Bydgoszcz (Poland), Baltisfem (Lithuania), the Local Councils’ Association, Association of Municipalities (Malta), the Institute of Enterpreneurship, an NGO (Greece), the Association for the development of mountain communities (Bulgaria). The credit of ALDA and its partners amounts around to 115.000 (ALDA 30,180, City of Bydgoszcz 31,000, Baltifem, 24,000, Institute of Enterpreuneurship, 9,700, Province of Reggio Emilia 9,000, Association for Development of Mountain Municipalities, 9,000, Local Councils’Association, 1,800). This is an amount of money that Asael has to pay to its partners for activities under the project, personal taxes, social contributions. Some of them could have lots of serious financial difficulties if they will not be paid.
“We believe that the situation has been largely overlooked bye very one here in Aragon – still says the Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida – by the risk that it may have in relations with the European Community. The Commission’s representative office in Madrid is aware of what happened and shares our position. TheCommission’s anti-fraud office is investigating possible embezzlement of which has been discussed in newspapers in the region. We are willing to go all the way to guarantee our rights, and we believe that it’ll be hard that any other European project could have partners entities such as the Aragonese Famcp, one of which vice president is the current President of Asael, whose responsibilities, if not for Sol’s management facts, is now due to elude any response.”
Asael’s former partners do not understand how institutions and political forces in Aragon do not exercise all is in their power to success fully resolve the issue, which also includes former employees of Asael remained without payment.
“We know that the former president of Asael, JesusSol, was very close to the President of PAR, Jose Angel Biel, who is vice president and spokesman of the regional government, and that the majority of members of Municipality member of Asael were led by mayors of the PAR. Can the PAR, which will celebrate its congress in the next days – still says Antonella Valmorbida – ignore the moral issue internally? And do the other parties in government and in the opposition not have the heart to safeguard the image of the region of Aragon in Europe? And how do they believe that, at the upcoming May elections, they can nominate again those outgoing mayors responsible for this failure?”
These are questions which the public of the region should demand answers, because the ethics of elected representatives and the institutions they governed has been called into question.
“We regret being forced to give public evidence of this situation – concluded the Director of ALDA, AntonellaValmorbida-but silence would be complicit in unlawful conduct. And we are even more regretful for the thirty years of history of Asael, its efficient staff and the president himself Sol, who we always had, until these facts have emerged, a very good account on. Asael was our partner and Sol was a member of our Board. It’s a real shame that things have had this outcome.”
The next 10th and 11th of March will take place in Sarajevo “NEXPO 2011” , the first Local Government Fair including participants from South Eastern Europe. ALDA is actively involved in the programme of this event with a stand and the participation of its President, Per Vinther, in the first panel on Good Governance and EU Integration (see http://nexpo.nalas.eu/).
The stand will mostly present the last activities of ALDA on local governance and citizens participation as well as the activities of the Local Democracy Agencies from Mostar, Prijedor and Zavidovici. “NEXPO 2011” is organised by NALAS, network of associations of local authorities of South East Europe, and more than 1,000 people will be participating, representatives from local municipalities, associations and international organisations.
A clear definition and extension of the competences of local authorities, appropriate local and regional financial means and autonomy, improvement of governance through increased transparence and participation and strengthening of capacities for public services. These are the four central needs of local authorities in the Western Balkans indicated by Keith Withmore, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, in his conclusion speech of the conference on the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the contribution of local and regional authorities that took place in Paris, in the French Senate, on 18th and 19th of February. Mr Keith Whitmore underlined also the involvement of the Congress in the Balkans (citing explicitly the LDAs and their existence since 1993 and ALDA’s work).
The conference united representatives of local authorities and other stakeholders of European decentralised cooperation. It was an excellent occasion for French local authorities and authorities from the Western Balkans to meet and exchange their views on the strategies and priorities of European integration.
A central point of reflection was the role of local authorities’ international cooperation in the integration process. Further subjects discussed included the role of good local governance and public local policy for European integration. The pause of enlargement is a chance to rethink the relationship between the EU and the Western Balkans, underlined the debate, and the governments in the Balkans have to act now, and at the same time, the EU has to speed up the accession procedures and propose viable political solution to problems such as the Kosovo issue. Many participants also demanded a greater implication of local authorities in the accession process.
Per Vinther, President of ALDA, was present at the conference and informed about its activities in decentralised cooperation in one of the workshops. The project of decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and the Republic of Macedonia was at the centre of attention. The conference was organised by the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE) in cooperation with the municipality of Dijon and the Community of Greater Dijon.
In cooperation with the The Franco-German Youth Office OFAJ and memorial centresOradur-sur-Glane in France and Dachau in Germany, LDA CSS implemented three cycle seminar entitled “War and Propaganda: An Approach to History in Europe”.
After a seminar in Dachau, this year youth groups from Germany, France and Serbia met in Oradour, France and Nis. Each seminar has been led by wellknown national historians, experts on each specific topic. Young people had the opportunity to question the relationship between propaganda in the Second World War and the 90s conflicts in the former Yugoslavia while investigating transnational historiography.
The BOOST Project, a regional initiative led byALDA, and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is making significant strides in strengthening civil society across the Western Balkans. Through its national sub-granting scheme, BOOST has selected ten impactful projects in each of the six Western Balkans countries: North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, bringing a total of 60 national initiatives that address specific local needs into the fold of democratic transformation.
The selected CSOs are now positioned to deepen cooperation with local stakeholders, ensuring that citizens play a more active role in shaping their communities. Emphasising inclusivity, the programme prioritises youth- and women-led organisations, as well as those operating in rural areas, underscoring its commitment to balanced regional development.
Each awarded initiative aligns with BOOST’s cross-cutting priorities: gender equality, European values, and citizen engagement. These values are embedded within the programme’s three strategic pillars. The first, Youth and Entrepreneurship, focuses on empowering young people, fostering social entrepreneurship, and enhancing youth participation in decision-making. The second, Rural Development and Environmental Protection, supports rural initiatives, promotes women’s leadership in rural contexts, and advances environmental sustainability. The third, Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Community Development, leverages cultural heritage as a driver for community growth and economic opportunity.
To support the implementation of their BOOST ideas, representatives from the selected CSOs will participate in a series of national trainings held across the six WBs countries between October 21 and November 26, 2025.
These sessions are tailored to the specific contexts of each country, offering participants the opportunity to explore diverse implementation strategies, network at national level, and engage in thematic workshops led by local experts, which are designed by the BOOST three strategic pillars.
Each training session will open with remarks from a representative of the French Embassy in the respective country, alongside representatives from the local partners.
The training series began in Albania, from October 21 to 23 and was held in Tirana, where the capacity-building and networking session opened with remarks from Mr. Rémy Privat, Attaché de Coopération at Ambassade de France en Albanie, and Ms. Zana Vokopola, Executive Director of Urban Research Institute.
The National training will continue with a three day event in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina from October 27 to 29 in Mostar.
Kosovo will host the national training from November 3 to 5 in Pristina, while North Macedonia will gather the BOOST Grantees from November 5 to 7 in Skopje.
The programme will continue in Serbia, from November 12 to 14 in Nis, while the last national training will be held in Montenegro, from November 24 to 26 in Podgorica.
BOOST—Balkans for Optimising Opportunities, Sustainability and Transformation of Civil Society is a catalyst for inclusive innovation and civic resilience. Grounded in EU values of solidarity, equity, and active citizenship, it empowers local changemakers to co-create sustainable, future-ready communities across the Western Balkans.
Period:
01/06/2025 - 31/05/2027
Countries involved:
Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia France Ireland Poland Spain
RISE aims to empower young people, especially those in vulnerable situations, by enhancing their skills in climate advocacy and environmental literacy.
Through training, mentorship, awareness campaigns, and local actions, it equips youth to address climate change, migration, and conflict.
OBJECTIVES
Provide capacity-building training in-person for 30 young people to educate them on environmental literacy and advocacy.
Organise roundtables with experts on the topic.
Create a mentorship programme for the young people, where they are mentored by the experts that have participated in the roundtables.
Support the development of local pilot actions in 5 countries (Spain, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Ireland) by the young participants of the project. The goal is enabling them to develop actions at the local level to advocate for the climate, and apply the skills that they have gained during the project.
ALDA Italia APS è impegnata in diversi progetti di prossimità e con un considerevole impatto sociale nella provincia di Vicenza. Il progetto Cura e Solidarietà, finanziato dall’Otto per Mille della Chiesa Valdese e che si chiude a fine ottobre, ha contribuito ad una campagna di reclutamento di medici volontari per l’Ambulatorio popolare gestito dall’associazione vicentina Caracol Olol Jackson. Inoltre, è da poco iniziato il progetto ASPIRA!Aspirazioni, Sinergie, Partecipazione, Rete e Alleanze con i NEET, finanziato da Fondazione Cariverona e che vede ALDA Italia come capofila, e che mira promuovere la partecipazione e il coinvolgimento di 15 NEET (l’acronimo di “Not in Education, Employment or Training”, che indica i giovani che non studiano, non lavorano e non seguono percorsi di formazione) dell’alto vicentino, per supportarli nel reinserimento sociale, professionale e psicologico.
Oltre a queste iniziative, continua anche il progetto RESPIRO, Reti di Empowerment e Salute per la Promozione dell’Inclusione e Responsabilità Operativa, anche questo finanziato da Fondazione Cariverona e con capofila l’Associazione Caracol insieme ai partner ALDA Italia e Cooperativa Equality. Tre sono gli obiettivi principali del progetto.
Innanzitutto, RESPIRO mira a potenziare l’offerta dei servizi medico sociosanitari dell’Ambulatorio popolare gestito dall’Ass. Caracol, che offre cure mediche gratuite a coloro che non hanno accesso al sistema sanitario nazionale (per mancanza dei documenti necessari) o coloro che non possono permettersi cure mediche particolarmente costose, come quelle odontoiatriche. In secondo luogo, il progetto intende aumentare e garantire un maggiore livello di informazione e sensibilizzazione sull’importanza dell’accesso alle cure, e infine rafforzare il coinvolgimento attivo della comunità locale nelle tematiche di cura, salute e welfare generativo.
Il 10 settembre 2025 si è tenuto l’incontro di lancio di RESPIRO, durante il quale i partner hanno presentato al pubblico presente gli obiettivi e le attività di progetto, ed è stata lanciata la creazione di un tavolo di lavoro coordinato da Caracol e ALDA Italia. L’obiettivo del tavolo è produrre un Manifesto di Intenti congiunto per costruire collettivamente delle linee guida su come dovrebbe essere l’approccio alla salute e sanità sociale per le associazioni ed enti che parteciperanno, confrontandosi a partire da parole chiave quali cura, salute e sanità, welfare generativo, comunità. Questo documento potrà poi essere condiviso con tutte le realtà del territorio che si occupano di cura e salute, ma non solo, in particolare nei confronti delle persone più svantaggiate.
Nel frattempo, lo staff di ALDA Italia ha condotto un’analisi dei bisogni degli utenti e dei volontari dell’Ambulatorio, realizzando interviste e questionari, per chiedere proprio a chi frequenta tutti i giorni la clinica come migliorarne i servizi e come meglio garantire il diritto alla salute. Ad esempio, i volontari hanno chiesto di poter essere maggiormente formati sulle possibilità di aiuto e sui servizi offerti dal territorio, e di conoscere meglio le condizioni politiche e socioeconomiche dei paesi di origine degli assistiti, soprattutto nei casi più complessi, in modo da poter aiutare e comunicare meglio con queste persone.
Il progetto prevede infatti dei laboratori di formazione per il personale volontario, medico e non, tenuti dalla Cooperativa Equality, e i cui contenuti sono stati elaborati anche a partire dalle richieste pervenute dai volontari stessi.
Infine, oltre a focalizzarsi sulla comunità di persone che ruotano attorno all’Ambulatorio di Caracol, come indicato dal terzo obiettivo del progetto, RESPIRO mira a coinvolgere i cittadini in un senso più ampio. Per questo motivo, ALDA Italia è responsabile di un’altra delle attività chiave, ovvero l’organizzazione di due laboratori interattivi su tematiche fondamentali quali gli stereotipi di genere e la ricerca di lavoro, rivolti a giovani NEET del territorio. Questi laboratori, pensati per essere altamente partecipativi – coinvolgendo i partecipanti in esperienze pratiche e dinamiche di gruppo per stimolare il confronto, la riflessione e l’apprendimento collaborativo – verranno realizzati tra la fine del 2025 e i primi mesi del 2026.
Si tratta, in conclusione, di attività che si auspica potranno apportare un contributo significativo e positivo alla società vicentina, e che avvicinano ALDA Italia sempre di più alle comunità in cui agisce.
Italy holds a sad record in Europe, ranking first in Europe for the number of NEETs (not in employment, education or training) most of whom are women.
ASPIRA! wants to support young NEETs (18-34 years old) in their social, professional and psychological empowerment through a synergy between not-for-profit entities, companies and public administration of Alto Vicentino area.
The first phase focuses onraising awareness among stakeholders in the territory, and it features vocational training activities for the NEETs, individual mentoring and group coaching. ALDA Italia will also organise workshops on soft skills. ASPIRA will involve 12/15 NEETs and these activities are divided into three actions: vocational counselling, social inclusion and psychological support.
The second phase aims at creating a toolkit with good practices emerged during the project on how to work with NEETs, after 6 meetings with all the partners and stakeholders of the area.
OBJECTIVES
Strengthen the autonomy of NEETs, both as individuals and as community.
Promote participation and involvement of NEETs.
Create a network of support for NEETs among not-for-profit sector, private sector and public administration.
Bruxelles, 13 ottobre 2025 – Presso la Rappresentanza Permanente d’Italia presso l’Unione Europea, l’Ambasciatore Marco Canaparo ha accolto la delegazione dei volontari del Servizio Civile Universale (SCU) attivi a Bruxelles, impegnati in diversi progetti di solidarietà, cittadinanza attiva e cooperazione internazionale.
L’incontro si è aperto con l’intervento del Consigliere Diplomatico del Ministro per lo Sport e i Giovani, Cristiano Musillo, che ha sottolineato l’importanza di «valorizzare il ruolo dei giovani, promuovendo esperienze di incontro e ascolto da realizzare con e non solo per i giovani», in una prospettiva di “diplomazia allargata”. A seguire, è intervenuta la dottoressa Rossella Spera, Coordinatrice del settore Istruzione, Gioventù, Cultura, Sport e Scuole Europee.
Nel corso dell’incontro, il Consigliere di Presidenza del Consiglio Nazionale dei Giovani (CNG), Francesco Marchionni, ha invitato i presenti a essere “ambasciatori dei valori italiani” durante il loro anno di servizio, rappresentando i principi di impegno civico, solidarietà e cooperazione che animano il Servizio Civile Universale.
Sono stati presentati i quattro progetti attualmente attivi a Bruxelles, promossi da ALDA, ACLI, Punto Missione e OPES.
Per ALDA, i volontari partecipano al progetto “BET ON EU”, realizzato in collaborazione con il Comune di Cremona, volto a rafforzare la consapevolezza europea tra i giovani, promuovendo valori di partecipazione democratica, dialogo interculturale e cittadinanza attiva.
In rappresentanza di ALDA ha preso parte all’incontro Manal Snidi, Vice Capo Ufficio di ALDA Bruxelles, insieme ai volontari SCU della sede di Bruxelles.
L’incontro è stato co-organizzato da Valeria Picchi, oggi parte del team ALDA Bruxelles ed ex volontaria del Servizio Civile Universale, e Federico Engaldini, ex volontario per l’ONG Punto Missione (membro della rete FOCSIV), che oggi coordinano la rete dei volontari a Bruxelles. Entrambi hanno guidato il gruppo nella presentazione di una serie di proposte per rafforzare il dialogo tra i giovani volontari e le istituzioni italiane ed europee, tra cui:
coinvolgere attivamente i volontari negli eventi e nelle iniziative promosse dalla Rappresentanza.
organizzare incontri periodici tra la Rappresentanza e i volontari SCU a Bruxelles;
sostenere la creazione di un video istituzionale dedicato al Servizio Civile Universale;
promuovere momenti di dialogo con la Commissione europea, per valorizzare l’esperienza civica e formativa dei giovani volontari italiani;
Il Servizio Civile Universale si conferma una forma concreta di diplomazia dei cittadini, capace di costruire ponti di dialogo, solidarietà e pace tra istituzioni e giovani europei
Per ulteriori informazioni qui è possibile consultare le schede dei progetti complete e sintetiche ed il vademecum Durante la sessione, hanno inoltre portato il loro contributo Rosa Melfi, rappresentante dei volontari, che ha sottolineato il valore umano e civico dell’esperienza del servizio civile; Rossano Salvatore, vice-presidente della Conferenza Nazionale degli Enti di Servizio Civile (CNESC), che ha ribadito i principi di nonviolenza e difesa non armata della Patria; e Primo di Blasio di FOCSIV, che ha ricordato come i volontari del SCU rappresentino non solo l’Italia, ma anche l’Europa nel mondo, auspicando un rafforzamento dei Corpi Europei di Solidarietà.
Ha preso parte all’incontro anche la dottoressa Serena Angioli, attaché per sport e politiche giovanili, che ha curato i rapporti con i volontari.
“Il Servizio Civile Universale rappresenta una forma concreta di diplomazia dei cittadini, capace di costruire ponti di dialogo, solidarietà e pace”, hanno dichiarato in chiusura l’Ambasciatore Canaparo e il Consigliere Musillo, sottolineando l’importanza di valorizzare questa esperienza sia in Italia che all’estero.
From 15 to 17 October, the Monastery of Camaldoli (Tuscany) hosted the third edition of Forum Civica – “Cultivating Democracy. A Look at the Future of Institutions”, bringing together leading scholars, public officials, and civil society representatives to explore how democratic participation can regenerate trust between citizens and institutions.
Forum Civica has become an important space for dialogue on democratic innovation in Italy, bringing together voices from institutions, academia, and civil society. Its third edition focused on the relationship between trust, participation, and the evolving role of local governance in shaping the public good.
This year’s discussions echoed broader European debates on how to rebuild civic confidence and strengthen social cohesion in a time of polarisation and disinformation.
During the roundtable “Institutions and Society: Allies in Building the Common Good,” moderated by the Florence School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute, Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA, presented the Association’s thirty years of experience in promoting local democracy and participatory governance.
She emphasised that “democracy is much more than voting — it is the daily act of participation and care for the common good.” Through its vast network of 300 members and thousands of partners, ALDA continues to demonstrate how cooperation between local authorities and civil society can strengthen trust, foster innovation, and make communities more resilient.
“Local democracy strengthens democracy itself and it’s the only antidote to the democracy crisis we are experiencing,” stated Valmorbida. “Strong local authorities and organised citizens form the backbone of an inclusive and effective governance model. Where these two actors work together to develop initiatives, social cohesion grows, resources multiply, and people feel part of their community. Nevertheless, it’s key to follow up on those initiatives to transform dialogue into concrete results, ensuring that participation remains meaningful rather than symbolic.
She also recalled the need to empower municipalities, “the first guardians of democracy,” by ensuring they have the skills and resources necessary to act effectively within their territories.
Valmorbida’s remarks resonated with ALDA’s long-standing mission to connect citizens and local authorities through inclusive governance. Drawing from ALDA’s extensive fieldwork — from the Western Balkans to North Africa — she underlined how local participatory mechanisms such as co-design workshops, civic labs, and participatory budgeting can restore citizens’ sense of ownership over democratic institutions.
“A democracy that listens and co-creates is a democracy that endures,” she added.
The roundtable, featuring contributions from Giovanni Allegretti (University of Coimbra) and Nicoletta Parisi (University of Catania, Movimento Europeo Italia), highlighted how cooperation, integrity, and trust remain the cornerstones of a renewed democratic pact between citizens and institutions.
This article is a contribution from Speha Fresia, one of the Italian partners of AMIL – Alliance Multi-Stakeholders for Migrants Integration and Labour.
Through an analysis of the labour market in the Lazio region and a reflection on the challenges faced by social workers in providing career guidance to third-country nationals, the article explores the main challenges and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between public and private actors in the labour inclusion of migrants.
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Social workers engaged in labour orientation for third-country nationals often struggle to effectively monitor employment opportunities and active labour policies, frequently relying on personal rather than structural relationships with the productive sector. The AMIL project aims to address these critical issues. Through its Labour Market Report in Italy and a business database, it will provide a methodology and operational tools to reinforce the cooperative approach among stakeholders, based on the MEIC methodology (Migrants Economic Integration Cluster).
With regard to the sectors offering the most opportunities for young people, the 2023 data analysis for the Lazio region clearly shows where the highest employment potential is concentrated.
The most dynamic sectors, leading in new hires, are two:
Accommodation and food services (including tourism) – which alone account for a significant share, representing 38% of job postings for young people.
Commerce, both wholesale and retail, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, which also reaches 38% of total requests.
Immediately after these two main “drivers,” Advanced Business Support Services rank third, with 36% of job openings. They are followed by Construction (24%) and Operational Support Services for businesses and individuals (15%). Despite this dynamic demand, the regional labour market shows significant difficulty in finding certain professional profiles among young workers. This means that, in many cases, companies struggle to identify suitable candidates for available positions.
Considering positions classified at EQF Level 3 in the European Qualifications Framework, the professions with the highest gap between labour supply and demand are found in several key areas:
Sector: Construction and Installations
Occupation: Skilled construction finishers
Hiring difficulty: 73% (3,900 out of 5,360 expected hires)
Occupation: Electrical and electronic equipment installers and maintenance technicians
Hiring difficulty: 54% (940 out of 1,760 expected hires)
Sector: Services and Market
Occupation: Beauty care operators
Hiring difficulty: 53% (2,440 out of 4,560 expected hires)
Occupation: Restaurant and catering workers
Hiring difficulty: 51% (16,490 out of 32,050 expected hires)
In summary, the Lazio region offers a wide range of job opportunities, particularly in tourism, hospitality, and trade, while at the same time struggling to find qualified workers in key sectors such as construction and personal services. These figures highlight a strong mismatch between labour demand and supply, especially for technical and professional roles, suggesting a potential area of intervention in vocational training for young third-country nationals.
On Thursday, 23 October 2025, the final Environment and Climate Hub Event of the year took place in Brussels, bringing together over 40 participants from civil society organisations, local authorities, universities, and SMEs for an engaging discussion on shaping greener and smarter cities in Europe. The event, titled “Beyond Awareness: How Civil Society Shapes the Green and Smart City”, offered a rich exchange of ideas, initiatives, and tools designed to support local communities in the green transition.
The first session featured presentations from projects and organisations actively working to make cities more sustainable through citizen engagement. Moderated by Valeria Fantini, Environment & Climate Hub Coordinator at ALDA, the session kicked off with Serena Lisai from ACR+, who set the scene by presenting the organisation’s mission and portfolio of initiatives aimed at fostering civic engagement in the circular economy. Serena highlighted how cities can achieve a just transition by implementing circular economy principles, improving public procurement practices, promoting soil health, and strengthening citizen participation in sustainability projects. She also emphasized the role of local and regional authorities in creating collaborative ecosystems for urban sustainability, including initiatives in food systems, industrial symbiosis in construction, and behavior change programs.
Following Serena, Carla Rodríguez Alonso from CARTIF presented the BUILDSPACE project, which develops digital services to support cities in planning energy-efficient buildings and climate resilience strategies. Carla showcased how satellite data, digital twins, and co-creation processes with pilot cities enable better decision-making on urban heat, flood resilience, and climate-adaptive building retrofits. The presentation showed the interactive BUILDSPACE tools, enabling participants to explore practical applications for their own urban contexts.
Rita Martino from ALDA+ introduced GreenScape CE, a project integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban infrastructure. Rita shared insights from hackathons conducted in five pilot cities (Zagreb, Warsaw, Szeged, Ptuj, and Milan), which fostered citizen-led ideas for greening urban areas. She also presented key project outputs, including a NbS Handbook, a multi-stakeholder engagement roadmap, and a DIY Guide to Green Up/Cool Down Your Home, designed to help local authorities and communities implement sustainable solutions.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in small-group exercise to discuss how the ideas and tools presented could be adapted and applied in their local contexts. The interactive activities emphasised the role of citizen engagement in the urban green transition, demonstrating how collaboration between communities, local authorities, and organisations can drive meaningful change and a real impact towards the green transition.
The event also featured a Marketplace of Initiatives, allowing participants to explore BUILDSPACE tools, learn more about GreenScape CE and ACR+, discover projects from Energy Cities, and engage with the Environment and Climate Hub initiatives. The Hub team and the ALDA Development Department were present to share insights on opportunities for collaboration across the Hub priorities and transversal topics. The day concluded with a networking lunch, offering attendees the chance to exchange experiences and create new connections.
ALDA Members Session: Fostering Collaboration for the future
After the public Hub event, ALDA members convened with the Hub team present at the Brussels office to follow up on the Hub Event online session held on 29 September 2025. The informal members’ session focused on identifying concrete ways to strengthen connections, collaboration, and joint initiatives within the Hub.
Key insights from the session highlighted several connections on topics of interest, including ecofeminism, energy, and sustainable food, underlining the importance of connecting these areas with citizen empowerment and the inclusion of underrepresented groups. Members shared their ongoing activities, ranging from circular economy initiatives and sustainable building design to soil health projects and citizen behavior programs. Advocacy efforts, particularly related to funding priorities and broader European initiatives, were also discussed as crucial levers for local impact.
The session emphasised the intersection of democracy and climate action, with a focus on the need to focus more on strengthening democracy for inclusive and practical collaboration at the local level. Members expressed strong interest in engaging in in-person workshops and training sessions, contributing to joint projects on shared priorities, and exchanging resources through the Hub’s newsletter to strengthen collective action and impact.
The discussion highlighted opportunities for co-creation of practical initiatives, including: joint projects on circular economy and renewable energy, pilot activities on sustainable food systems and urban greening, and collaborative training and capacity-building programs.
The Environment and Climate Hub and its members leave Brussels inspired, ready to co-create projects, share knowledge, and deepen partnerships that drive the green transition at local and regional levels.
The Environment and Climate Hub event “Beyond Awareness” demonstrated the power of civil society in shaping greener, smarter, and more inclusive cities. By combining innovative tools, citizen engagement, and strong collaboration between civil society and local authorities, the Hub continues to foster sustainable urban transformation across Europe. By listening to its members and providing the tools they need, ALDA’s Environment & Climate Hub is building a
The European Week of Regions and Cities 2025 once again brought together thousands of policymakers, local representatives and civil society actors to discuss how to make Europe’s regions stronger, more sustainable, and more democratic.
Throughout the three-day event, ALDA actively contributed to discussions, workshops and networking sessions, reinforcing its long-standing mission to promote local democracy, citizen participation and inclusive territorial development.
Exploring Digital Education for Rural Resilience
Within the thematic track “Cities Building Tomorrow”, ALDA’s Digital & Innovation Hub hosted the session “Digital Education for Rural Resilience: Tools, Stories and Strategies from Across Europe”.
Bringing together policymakers, educators and community leaders, the workshop explored how digital skills and innovation can bridge the rural-urban divide and empower smaller communities to thrive in the digital decade.
This initiative reflected ALDA’s ongoing commitment to digital inclusion and to ensuring that no community is left behind in Europe’s digital transformation.
👉 Learn more about ALDA’s Digital & Innovation Hub here.
From Housing to Participation: Local Democracy in Practice
Another highlight was the session dedicated to housing and community participation, where Maite Aldaz, Project Manager at ALDA, shared insights on how inclusive housing policies can foster stronger civic engagement and social cohesion at the local level.
Her contribution emphasised the importance of co-creation between citizens and local authorities in addressing complex urban challenges — a principle at the heart of ALDA’s approach to good governance.
“From digital inclusion to participatory housing, ALDA’s contribution to the European Week of Regions and Cities demonstrated that democracy grows stronger when communities lead the change”
Promoting Cooperation and Cultural Heritage
In the same week, ALDA President Nataša Vučković participated in the European Heritage Hub Forum, held as part of the EWRC framework. Her intervention in the panel “The Role of Local Authorities – Democracy, Sustainable Tourism and Solidarity” underlined how safeguarding cultural heritage is deeply linked to democratic governance and community resilience.
Meanwhile, the week also featured the signature ceremony marking the accession of the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) as a new partner of the LDA Vinnytsia Region (Ukraine) — a milestone moment for European cooperation and solidarity within ALDA’s network.
Beyond the sessions, ALDA’s stand at the EWRC exhibition served as a dynamic meeting point for members, partners and new stakeholders. The stand showcased the Association’s wide network of Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) and its numerous EU-funded projects fostering participation, environmental sustainability, and local development.
The visibility achieved through this direct interaction reinforced ALDA’s central role as a facilitator between local authorities, civil society, and European institutions.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities came to a close, ALDA reaffirmed its dedication to building bridges between territories and citizens — ensuring that democratic participation remains at the core of Europe’s sustainable future.
👉 Learn more about the European Week of Regions and Cities on the official EWRC website.
Brussels, 13 October 2025 — At the Representation of the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate, a signature ceremony marked a new milestone in European cooperation: the official accession of the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) as a partner of theLocal Democracy Agency (LDA) Vinnytsia Region (ЛДА Вінниччина).
This partnership reaffirms the shared commitment of European regions to stand with Ukraine – promoting local democracy, reconstruction, and resilience through ALDA’s network of Local Democracy Agencies
“By joining the LDA Vinnytsia partnership, Rhineland-Palatinate expands our collective capacity to promote local democracy, develop common projects, and bring European regions and Ukrainian communities closer than ever“
— Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA
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According to the official communication of the Government of Rhineland-Palatinate, the accession was signed “within the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities” – a meaningful setting symbolising unity in times of crisis.
Minister-President Alexander Schweitzer highlighted the partnership as “an important step in deepening European cooperation and a clear sign of solidarity with Ukraine.”
State Secretary Heike Raab further noted: “We will gradually expand our partnership and bring it to life — for the benefit of people in both regions.”
In the coming months, cooperation will focus on joint projects in education, digitalisation, and climate protection, reinforcing Rhineland-Palatinate’s dedication to peace, exchange, and mutual support across Europe.
The ceremony gathered partners and friends from France, Spain, Germany, and Ukraine — a true symbol of unity and trust, demonstrating that cooperation works: delivering tangible results, empowering local authorities, and upholding European values of democracy, participation, and solidarity.
ALDA warmly welcomes the Region of Rhineland-Palatinate to the LDA Vinnytsia Region partnership and looks forward to future initiatives advancing local democracy and European integration in Ukraine.
A heartfelt thanks goes to Heike Raab, Karsten Lucke, Hanno Pfeil, and the team of the Representation of Rhineland-Palatinate in Brussels for their leadership and support — as well as to all partners actively involved, including:
Europe recently said farewell to Sofia Corradi, affectionately known as “Mamma Erasmus.” Her vision of educational mobility and cooperation brought to life the Erasmus Programme, one of the European Union’s most celebrated initiatives. Designed to make learning a shared European experience, the programme has transformed higher education, youth work, and civic engagement across the continent.
Nearly forty years after its launch in 1987, the Erasmus legacy continues to shape Europe’s social and democratic landscape. More than 14 million Europeans have benefited from study, training, or volunteering opportunities abroad. With a budget of €26.2 billion for 2021–2027, Erasmus+ remains one of the EU’s strongest instruments for promoting inclusion, participation, and mobility, in this way empowering new generations to learn, engage, and lead.
For ALDA, the spirit of Erasmus has always been central to its mission. Learning, exchange, and cooperation are not only educational tools but essential elements of democracy in action. Through its many Erasmus+-funded projects, ALDA turns these values into practice, bridging the gap between education, civic participation, and local governance.
Among ALDA’s many initiatives supported by the Erasmus+ programme, these are just some examples of how the association transforms learning and participation into tools for democratic engagement. READY(Raising Environmental Awareness for Deprived Youth) helps young people from disadvantaged areas explore how environmental protection and active citizenship can go hand in hand. Funded by Erasmus+, the project promotes creativity, dialogue, and social inclusion through innovative learning experiences, empowering youth to become agents of sustainability in their communities.
Similarly, the RISE project (Resilience, Inclusion, Sustainability, Empowerment) embodies the Erasmus vision by strengthening youth participation in decision-making processes. Through local and international workshops, RISE promotes skills development and democratic awareness, encouraging young citizens to take an active role in shaping the societies they live in.
Another example of Erasmus+ support is CREATE UP, which promotes entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sectors. By linking education, innovation, and social responsibility, CREATE UP enables emerging professionals and artists to turn ideas into impact, demonstrating how Erasmus+ can connect creativity with civic engagement.
Finally, Youth for Europe, one of ALDA’s long-standing Erasmus+ projects, remains a key reference in promoting intercultural dialogue and shared European identity. Through youth exchanges and local activities, the project strengthens solidarity and understanding between communities across Europe, building bridges between generations and territories.
The Erasmus legacy is alive in ALDA’s daily work — where learning and participation become the foundations of democratic resilience.
Through these and many other initiatives, ALDA demonstrates how education and civic engagement reinforce one another. By empowering young people, supporting local authorities, and connecting citizens through dialogue and shared learning, ALDA contributes to the long-term goals of Erasmus+: building a Europe that is inclusive, sustainable, and democratic.
Beyond projects, ALDA’s Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) and its network of more than 300 members in 50 countries continue to promote opportunities for mobility, training, and partnership. Each Erasmus+ experience, whether a workshop, exchange, or capacity-building programme, becomes a seed for civic transformation, nurturing the next generation of European leaders.
As Europe faces global challenges and transitions, digital, social, and environmental, the Erasmus legacy remains more relevant than ever. It reminds us that cooperation, mutual learning, and empathy are the pillars of a democratic Europe. For ALDA, carrying this legacy forward means continuing to build bridges between citizens and institutions, and ensuring that education and participation remain at the heart of democracy.
International conference brings together voices of democracy in the region.
On 21 October 2025, in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova, ALDA hosted the International Conference titled “Council of Europe Standards for Civil Society and Instruments of Civic Participation”, under the framework of the BRIDGE to CoE project, funded by the Council of Europe.
The conference brought together more than 70 participants, including representatives of civil society, local and central public administrations, international experts and development partners, to together engage in a full-day of discussions, experience sharing and practical solutions aimed at strengthening democratic resilience and civic participation in Moldova and Ukraine.
A core theme of the conference was the presentation of the Council of Europe’s standards and guidelines for civil society participation in political decision-making.
Participants were also introduced to an innovative digital tool, Civic Lab, designed to support citizen involvement in the planning and transformation of public spaces — enabling public consultations, result simulations and engagement of diverse community groups in both physical and online formats.
The BRIDGE to CoE initiative serves as a collaborative platform connecting civic actors across Eastern Europe with European institutions, supporting and promoting democratic resilience and inclusive governance. The Chişinău conference provided a space for learning, dialogue and collaboration, grounded in shared values and collective responsibility amid current challenges to democracy in the region.
Through combining policy-level dialogue and hands-on exchange, the conference reinforced how inclusive civic participation and adherence to Council of Europe standards are essential for resilient local democracy.
As part of its ongoing mission to foster participatory democracy and sustainable local development, ALDA is proud to play a key role in the FIC-Fighters project—a Horizon Europe initiative tackling the environmental and social legacy of phosphogypsum (PG) waste stacks across Europe.
On 24 September 2025, ALDA brought together a diverse group of citizens in Veles, North Macedonia, for the project’s first local participatory event. The goal? To engage residents directly affected by the PG site—locally known as “White Hill”—and co-create a vision for its transformation.
ALDA’s Role in FIC-Fighters
Within the FIC-Fighters project, ALDA leads the design and implementation of local participatory processes in all six pilot sites across Europe. These initiatives are not just about gathering feedback—they are about empowering citizens to actively shape the decision-making around environmental justice and just transition.
In Veles, ALDA coordinated the first in a series of deliberative and co-creative workshops that will take place in Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Romania, Croatia, and North Macedonia over the course of the project. The methodology focuses on inclusive, dynamic, and locally adapted formats—ensuring that every voice is heard, from youth to elderly, from farmers to former workers.
Fifteen citizens, aged between 17 and 80, participated in an engaging, hands-on workshop. Through group works and storytelling, they explored the environmental, health, and social challenges associated with the PG stack—and collectively imagined future possibilities for the site.
Key Concerns
Participants identified several pressing issues:
Pollution of air, water, and soil with invisible but damaging effects
Health problems such as anemia and respiratory illnesses
Lack of transparency and citizen involvement in monitoring and decision-making
Decline in agriculture and increased outmigration from the area
Vulnerable Groups
The discussion also focused on who bears the greatest burden of these impacts:
Individuals with chronic illnesses;
Farmers and their families;
Pregnant women, children, and elderly citizens;
Former industrial workers exposed to PG over time.
Community Priorities
With ALDA’s facilitation, citizens collaboratively defined a set of local priorities:
Launching recycling initiatives (voted as the top priority);
Ensuring transparent environmental monitoring;
Strengthening citizen consultation in future decisions;
Transforming the PG site into a green and recreational public space.
Opportunities & Obstacles
The community sees hope in the idea of a green transformation and even in the potential reuse of PG waste for extracting critical raw materials. However, high costs and institutional inertia remain major challenges. Citizens called for stronger youth involvement, cross-sector collaboration, and consistent support from national and European actors.
“We want to be involved—not just informed. The future of White Hill must include us.” — Local participant, Veles
Building Momentum Across Europe
This event in Veles is just the beginning. In the coming months, ALDA will coordinate similar local workshops across other project sites, always with the goal of empowering citizens and ensuring that regeneration strategies are shaped by those who live closest to the impact.
📲 Stay informed and connected with the project’s latest updates:
As the CIRAN project moves toward its conclusion in December 2025, its commitment to building resilient and democratic approaches to resource governance remains stronger than ever. On 13 October 2025, CIRAN convened a high-level policy dialogue at the European Parliament in Brussels, focused on one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: how to implement the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) in a way that is both strategically effective and socially accepted.
The event, titled “Minerals for Strategic Autonomy and Regional Development – Boosting the Critical Raw Materials Act Implementation”, was hosted by MEP Hildegard Bentele, a key figure in shaping the CRMA and currently the Parliament’s Representative on the EU Critical Raw Materials Board.
ALDA was there to bring a critical perspective to the table: the voice of citizens.
This policy event, organised by CIRAN – a Horizon Europe project focused on critical raw materials and community resilience – brought together EU policymakers, industry experts, researchers, and civil society leaders to tackle the real-world challenges of CRMA implementation. ALDA’s participation was particularly focused on presenting the outcomes and insights from citizen engagement activities conducted throughout the project.
ALDA highlighted one central message:
“Well-informed citizens can be fully contributing partners in any development process, rather than simply beneficiaries – and they certainly should never be enemies.”
This sentiment echoes ALDA’s core belief: inclusive and transparent dialogue is essential if Europe is to transition toward strategic autonomy while maintaining democratic legitimacy and social cohesion.
Key Takeaways from the Event
There was broad consensus among stakeholders that social acceptance—not technological innovation or economic viability—is the greatest barrier to CRMA implementation.
Tools like Community Development Agreements were seen as promising mechanisms to build trust and cooperation between communities and resource developers.
However, the difficulties in ensuring broad stakeholder participation revealed deep-rooted polarisation in Europe’s minerals policy landscape.
ALDA underlined that engagement must not only be invited, but also made accessible, safe, and meaningful—particularly for civil society and local communities.
The session was followed by a salon dinner, continuing the conversation in a more informal setting and reinforcing the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to move forward.
The Real Challenge: Rebuilding Social Infrastructure
Despite the innovative technical and policy solutions discussed, participants agreed that none of these will succeed without a functioning social infrastructure for dialogue. ALDA stressed that efforts must go beyond information-sharing to actively empower communities in decision-making processes around raw materials and resource governance.
The 13 October session at the European Parliament was a powerful reminder: Europe’s green and digital transitions require critical raw materials—but they also require critical democratic practices.
As the CIRAN project nears its conclusion, ALDA will continue advocating for people-first governance. Social acceptance cannot be manufactured—it must be earned through genuine, inclusive, and ongoing dialogue.
Stay up to date with CIRAN’s work on community resilience and critical raw materials!
On 10 October 2025, ALDA hosted an event in Marseille, France to bring together all the partners of the RISE project (Resilience, Inclusion and Sustainability through Empowerment in Climate Advocacy). The gathering included our first Transnational Partner Meeting and a public event focused on youth engagement in sustainability.
The meeting in Marseille offered a valuable opportunity to meet all partners in person for the first time and to begin preparing the Youth Training, which will take place in Spain’s Extremadura region. In the afternoon, we held a public event to present the RISE project and had the pleasure of hosting two Marseille-based organisations – Les Têtes de l’Art and L’école Buissonnière – who shared their inspiring practices. L’école Buissonnière led a workshop on slow fashion and the opportunities it offers, while Les Têtes de l’Art showcased how art can foster youth inclusion in society. Both activities sparked engaging discussions and thoughtful reflections among participants, concluding an inspiring and eventful day.
The RISE project aims to empower young people aged 18 to 30, particularly those in vulnerable situations, to become leaders in climate advocacy.
A group of 30 young participants from the six partner countries will be selected to take part in a four-day training on environmental literacy and advocacy in Mérida, Spain, at the end of February 2026.
Beyond the in-person training, participants will also benefit from webinars led by experts in the field. These experts will act as mentors, guiding young people as they design and implement their own local climate initiatives. By the end of the project, participants will have the tools and knowledge to launch impactful environmental actions in their communities.
Following this successful kick-off in Marseille, the selection process for the young changemakers training will begin soon. We are excited to continue this journey with our partners and look forward to meeting the young participants in Mérida. Stay tuned to ALDA news for our upcoming open call for participants!
On 11 and 12 September 2025 at Tallinn, Estonia, ALDA attended the Tallinn Business Incubator’s “Circular Economy & Built Environments: From Vision to Implementation”conference, organised in partnership with Circular Design Alliance (CiD) project. Held at the Club of Different Rooms, at the Telliskivi Creative District, the event gathered architects, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers to explore how circular economy principles can reshape architecture, urban planning, and design.
The conference aimed to transform circular economy concepts into practical strategies, addressing the pressing reality that the built environment and related industries account for nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions
The first day of the event was dedicated to CiD Accelerator (Demo Day) activities, in which students from the continuous education programme of the project pitched their projects to a jury of experts, showcasing entrepreneurial approaches to circular design, as part of the project development. This particular activity was part of the Accelerator Programme of the project, in which the jury awarded prizes to the winning teams – Rinova (IAAC), Second Matter (IAAC), and Semina (UniGe) –, and praised them for their entrepreneurial spirit.
Following that, the second day was marked by keynote presentations on the topics of the conference, highlighting relevant practices and underscoring concrete examples of circular innovation such as the presentation of the Hundipea project, the Myceen start-up and the 3cycle system.
As part of the CiD project, ALDA showcased its ongoing work to advance circularity, highlighting the pivotal role of Observatories in the CiD activities. These Observatories are central to CiD’s mission of fostering evidence-based approaches to circular design. ALDA also presented the CCRI Knowledge Hub, which supports cities and regions in their transition towards circular practices, facilitating collaboration, and providing practical guidance. Together, these initiatives demonstrate ALDA’s Environment and Climate Hub commitment to turning data and knowledge into concrete actions that drive the shift towards a more circular and sustainable future.
On 14 October 2025, ALDA President Nataša Vučković took part in the European Heritage Hub Forum in Brussels, contributing to the high-level panel “The Role of Local Authorities – Democracy, Sustainable Tourism and Solidarity.” Organised by Europa Nostra, the event gathered policymakers, cultural experts, and local representatives to explore how cultural heritage and democracy can reinforce one another as pillars of European identity and social cohesion.
In her intervention, Ms Vučković highlighted the fundamental role that local authorities and civil society play in ensuring that cultural heritage remains a living, democratic process—one rooted in citizen participation, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility. Representing the ALDA, she emphasised how democratic governance at the local level is essential for transforming heritage preservation into a collective, community-driven effort.
“Cultural heritage and democracy are deeply intertwined: both are built on participation, dialogue, and the shared values that unite European communities.”
Moderated by Cristina Garzillo Leemhuis, Head of Socio-Cultural Transformations at ICLEI Europe, the panel featured leading voices such as Charalambos Prountzos and Mehmet Harmanci, leaders of the two communities of Nicosia; Jordi Pascual from United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG); Gaianè Casnati from Europa Nostra; and Stefano Pisani, Mayor of Pollica and former President of Cittaslow International. Together, they exchanged insights on how local governance, sustainable tourism, and cultural solidarity can advance Europe’s democratic and environmental transitions.
Ms Vučković drew upon ALDA’s extensive experience in decentralised cooperation and citizen engagement, citing the BOOST project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The initiative strengthens local actors’ capacities to engage in participatory governance and protect shared cultural values, demonstrating how heritage can serve as a bridge between democracy and sustainable development. She also underlined ALDA’s broader collaboration with European cooperation agencies such as Expertise France, which share a commitment to empowering local stakeholders and supporting inclusive governance across Europe and its neighbourhood.
She noted that cultural heritage does not only belong to the past but also to the future of local democracy. When citizens are actively involved in decision-making about their heritage, the result is stronger trust in institutions, more resilient communities, and a deeper sense of belonging. “Heritage should be seen as a living resource that empowers people,” she remarked, “and local democracy is the framework through which this empowerment takes place.”
The European Heritage Hub Forum itself aimed to position cultural heritage as a catalyst for preserving European values, aligning with the EU’s broader objectives under the New European Bauhaus and the European Green Deal. Through its panels and discussions, the Forum reaffirmed that the protection of cultural heritage goes hand-in-hand with social justice, sustainability, and democratic governance.
ALDA’s participation further reinforced its commitment to fostering dialogue between local authorities, citizens, and European institutions. By engaging in high-level platforms such as the European Heritage Hub Forum, the Association continues to advocate for inclusive, participatory approaches to heritage governance—where every citizen plays an active role in shaping the cultural and democratic future of Europe.
Between April 2024 and July 2025, ALDA has been leading efforts to promote the local implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights through the FOCUS project, coordinating the activities of Work Package 5. The goal? To bring the Charter closer to the people, starting with local authorities, and extending to civil society organisations and citizens.
In partnership with Democracy Reporting International, ALDA established a Community of Interest and co-organised the International Training of Multipliers, offering participants a deep dive into the Charter’s scope, legal value, and practical application. The training not only provided theoretical tools but also created space for personal reflection on how EU values play out in everyday governance.
Following the international training, members of the Community of Interest brought this knowledge to their own territories, delivering local follow-up trainings in the Municipality of Brescia (Italy), Barcelona Provincial Council (Spain), Human Rights Cities Network (Belgium), RAM Central Stara Planina (Bulgaria), and Local Councils Association (Malta). Using an interactive, case-based approach, and supported by official manuals and practical guides, the sessions aimed to increase awareness of the Charter, encourage reflection on its local relevance, and stimulate transnational dialogue.
In total, 69 participants representing municipalities and local stakeholders took part in these sessions between May and July 2025. While each training was tailored to the local context, one common theme emerged: a stronger, more practical understanding of the Charter is urgently needed at the local level.
The local trainings revealed a range of priorities across the five countries. In Italy, the focus was on fiscal justice and social inclusion, with challenges such as tax evasion and non-inclusive policies prompting calls for stronger monitoring and legislation grounded in equality and solidarity. Belgium’s sessions highlighted the need for clearer communication on data protection and digital rights, alongside improving urban accessibility for people with disabilities. Spain concentrated on building a solid understanding of the Charter among municipalities to support consistent rights-based practices. Bulgaria raised concerns about environmental protection and personal data transparency amid growing public awareness. Meanwhile, Malta tackled the pressing issue of urban overdevelopment in Valletta, proposing measures like heritage impact assessments, affordable housing, and increased civic participation to preserve cultural identity and support residents.
Thanks to the active involvement of Community of Interest members and the technical support provided by ALDA and DRI, the local trainings have not only deepened the understanding of the Charter, but also generated a comparative overview of challenges and solutions across the five countries. A training details table, complete with narrative reports, offers further insight into each session’s outcomes.
By anchoring EU values in local realities, this initiative takes a crucial step toward making the Charter more than just a legal document, but a living framework for inclusive, rights-based policymaking across Europe
It is important to remember that the fundamental rights protected by the EU Charter are part of a universal framework that applies to all individuals, regardless of their location or political context. Just as local communities across Europe work to uphold these rights, many populations in complex situations, such as in Palestine, Congo and Sudan, continue to face significant challenges in accessing and exercising their fundamental freedoms. This shared struggle underlines the global importance of promoting and protecting human rights everywhere.
