European Year of Citizens 2013

chseychell Contributor

Member since 21 March 2013

chseychellContributor21 March 2013 09:26:41

193

The European Commission has named 2013 the European Year of Citizens. The purpose of the Year is to increase EU citizens participation in EU civil society and enhance their knowledge of the rights linked to the European citizenship.

The objectives for the European Year of Citizens are to:
1. raise Union citizens' awareness of the right to move and reside freely within the Union and, in this context, of all other rights guaranteed to Union citizens, without discrimination, including their right to vote in local and European elections in any Member State in which they reside;
2. raise awareness among Union citizens, including young people, about how they can tangibly benefit from Union rights, as well as about policies and programmes that exist to support the exercise of those rights;
3. stimulate debate about the impact and potential of the right of freedom of movement and residence, as an inalienable aspect of Union citizenship.

I am looking for members of the public (both Maltese citizens who lived or are living in a EU Member State, as well as non-Maltese EU citizens currently living in Malta) whose life experiences are directly linked to the Years objectives and who would be willing to share their story publicly by way of written/audiovisual stories or by participating in the schedule of rolling events.

I am also trying to identify three media-trained spokespeople who can effectively articulate campaign messages with a national nuance. These spokespeople/experts will be called on for proactive and reactive media engagement. They will be provided with written and verbal briefings.

I was wondering if you would like to be among a handful of people who would be willing to share their experience and views about the topic. Should you wish to be actively involved in this pan-European educational campaign, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Harmonie ViP

Member since 13 June 2011

HarmonieViP21 March 2013 11:44:14

19273

Welcome to Expat.com chseychell!

I invite you to post an advert in the Looking for section of Malta classifieds.

Harmonie

ricky ViP

Member since 06 September 2009

rickyViP21 March 2013 12:32:21

3522

Hi Charlo,

many thanks for making us EU citizen/residents of Malta aware of the 'European Year of Citizens' and our rights as such.

Could you please tell us more about your personal role in this campaign. What is your role? Are you paid by the EU or the Maltese government or ...?

Don't you think that you should put these issues and questions to all those Maltese government and non- government corporations who seem to think otherwise about the rights of EU citizens.

My list would start with Enemalta/WSC/Arms and contuinue with TM/Arriva and the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs followed by banks,telephone companies and ...... the list is getting too long !

I've probably opened a big bag of nasties here but why not -)))

Cheers
Ricky

scubaboy Serial expat

Member since 06 February 2011

scubaboySerial expat21 March 2013 12:36:35

872

.... oh my !!

chseychell Contributor

Member since 21 March 2013

chseychellContributor22 March 2013 10:51:57

193

Hi Harmonie,
As you might have guessed, I am new here. So, if I use the wrong Forum for my post, I apologise.
Is it a case of moving it to the appropriate Forum?
Thanks.
Charlo

chseychell Contributor

Member since 21 March 2013

chseychellContributor22 March 2013 11:39:26

193

Hi Ricky,

Thanks for your message.

My role in this pan-European campaign, which is run by the EU's Directorate-General of Communication, is to promote the European Year and its aims.

As you rightly pointed out, there are a lot of issues related to EU citizenship that need to be dealt with. Thus this year's theme.

The EU will be organising several educational and promotional events across Europe to help EU citizens learn about their rights.

In Malta (like in the rest of the EU), EU citizens will have the opportunity to raise issues related to cross-border rights during a number of public debates (entitled "Join the debate") that will be held later on this year. These would be the ideal channel for EU citizens to air their concerns about the matter.

So make sure you "join the debate".

Kind regards,

Charlo