Together for a better European Union

The EU for Global project aims at fostering democratic participation in shaping policies for the future of the European Union within a global framework. Implemented across eight countries—Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Malta, Greece, Denmark, Germany, and Latvia—the project emphasizes the role of the European Union on the global stage while reinforcing a shared sense of European identity and values. 

A key objective of EU for Global is to rebuild citizens' trust in national and international institutions, enhancing their capacity to respond effectively to pressing global challenges. By engaging participants in meaningful dialogue, the project seeks to bridge gaps and create actionable strategies for a more resilient and inclusive Europe.

During the first Transnational Citizens’ Panel, participants coming from over eight EU Member States were organised into four groups, each tasked with addressing one of the project’s major thematic areas. Through collaborative teamwork, they identified key challenges, pressing needs, and potential solutions relevant to citizens in each domain. At the conclusion of the session, each group presented their findings to the larger audience, fostering an open exchange of ideas and inviting additional contributions to refine their proposals.

Migration and Solidarity

• Lack of Solidarity Among Member States
  • Highlight cooperation challenges, especially for countries like Greece, Malta, Spain, and Italy, heavily affected by migration.
• Discrimination Concerns
  • Quotas that should be reflective of the demographics and incentives to solve the problem of under hiring through state subventions.
  • Increasing the visibility of minorities.
• Integration and Deportation Risks
  • Recognizing migrants' economic contributions and not only, as they should have means to acquire faster citizenship in the residence country and to have access to social services.
• Labor Shortages
  • Not enough workers and specialists in reception centers and facilities.
• Common Migration Clauses
  • Develop EU-wide migration policies while addressing differences between nationalities.
  • EU-wide standards for citizenship (related to the stateless children as well) - introducing a faster way to get citizenship or residence.
  • Increase the speed of the migration processes upon arrival
  • The creation of basic standards that each country can have, so that there aren’t so many differences between countries
  • Strengthen the role of the European Union Agency for Asylum.
  • Better regulations for migration Financial Aid and Housing Distribution.
  • Redesigning support systems to avoid forming ghettos and ensure equitable access to resources.
• Avoiding Isolation
  • Create programs that prevent migrant communities from becoming isolated, in order for them to be integrated in the host country..
• Demographic Quotas
  • Introducing demographic quotas in institutions.
  • Creating programs and laws for the case of Stateless Children and Nationality Gaps.
  • Amending EU regulations to address issues like statelessness (for example for children born to Syrian mothers who are unable to pass on their nationality in order to have access to social services).
  • Implementing programs for children like community activities or creative community gatherings and better financing for projects dedicated to them, in order for them to be integrated.
• Streamlining Migration Processing
  • Enhancing the role and staffing of relevant authorities (e.g., asylum agencies) to process applications more efficiently.

Fake News

• AI Tools for Fact-Checking
  • Developing an EU platform using AI to filter and verify information, with oversight by state governments.
• Reporting Mechanisms
  • Create platforms for citizens to report fake news, ensuring these are user-friendly and accessible.
• Media Institutions to Protect Journalists
  • Establish an EU-level institution to safeguard journalists' rights, ensuring they can report the truth without fear of dismissal.
  • Strengthen the of cybersecurity measures.
  • Ideas of curriculum that could be integrated in the national education systems for combatting disinformation.
  • Establish a EU level institution to reduce the bureaucratic process for organizations, people, etc to report disinformation or attacks through disinformation.
• Strengthening Internet Laws
  • Extend existing Internet laws to media institutions, addressing misinformation and holding them accountable, as countries should follow the international law and the EU media should be a role model in all the world.
• Education on Fake News
  • Educate the public on identifying and reporting disinformation to build a more informed society.
• Debunking Department
  • Form a specialised department to evaluate and publicly address false narratives with verified facts.

Empowering Youth

• Recognising NGOs and Volunteers
  • Implement systems to formally recognise and reward not just organisations but also individual volunteers for their contributions.
• Changing Perceptions of Youth
  • Challenge misconceptions by highlighting the value of youth-led initiatives in personal and community development.
• Political Education for Youth
• An app/website for receiving awards for being an active citizen
  • Create educational programs to inform young people about political roles and opportunities in their countries.
• Promoting Volunteering
  • Expanding school-based campaigns to promote volunteering in European projects, showcasing its personal and societal benefits.
  • Strengthening the visibility of international Civil society networks.
     
  • People who volunteer should get something to motivate them at the start, like a European Youth Card, which they could use to get more discounts or charge it and spend it regardless, the schools/universities should provide it (the more volunteering work they do, the more benefits on such a card they could benefit from). Paid internships or projects also plays a crucial role in this domain.
  • Create youth centers at European level from EU funds and make the ones that do exist known.
• Role Models
  • Introduce successful individuals as role models to inspire and guide youth in various fields.
• From Local to Global
  • Encourage scaling local initiatives to a global stage, demonstrating how small actions can lead to broader impacts.
  • Engaging young people who are not usually engaged, like people from rural areas.
  • Economic support for the people who are not engaged at all.
  • EU level could pay youth that works (youth workers).

Technology, Jobs & Future of the EU

• Space for Experimentation
  • Foster environments that encourage experimentation with AI tools and solutions, allowing stakeholders to explore their potential.
• Critical Engagement with AI
  • Promote discussions on AI recommendations, encouraging users to question and validate what these tools suggest.
• Educational Workshops
  • Organize workshops for decision-makers, citizens, and industries to understand the ethical implications and practical applications of AI.
• Transparency and Accountability
  • Ensure that AI tools used in governance and decision-making are transparent in their processes and accountable for their outputs.
  • Paid internships should be applied in every EU country as the EUlegislations asks.
  • Exploring ways to implement AI tools in policy making.
  • Democracy, government and the EU education in schools.
  • Tax cuts for intern employers, reducing bureaucratic burden.

The EU for Global project is funded by the European Union through the CERV programme.