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Citizens facing “Brussels’ Europe”

This synthesis by Virginie Timmerman shows the key issues of a discussion in Brussels between 52 European citizens and EU institutions’ representatives about their vision of the EU and their access to it. It happened on 4 May 2014 in the framework of our project “Horizon EU”.

5 May 2014, a few weeks before the European elections, Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute organised the second stage of the project “Horizon EU : European citizenship, a horizontal development” bringing together 52 citizens from 18 EU member states, in Brussels, so that they could discuss their vision of the EU and their means of access to the EU with representatives of European institutions. This synthesis covers the main points of the discussions between the 52 European citizens and representatives of European institutions.

Two issues were addressed:

1. More transparency for a better understanding of the European decision-making processes. 

2. Better communication to strengthen the relationship between European citizens and actors. 

On this occasion, citizens were able to share their questions and opinions with:

Vasco Cal, member of the Bureau for European policy advisors (BEPA), European Commission;
Ian Barber, head of the Strategy, corporate communication actions and Eurobarometer unit at the Communication directorate general, European Commission.
Isabelle Durant, vice-president of the European Parliament;
Luc Van den Brande, member and former president of the Committee of the Regions.

To see the pictures, click here

To see the synthesis on the stage 1 of “Horizon EU”, click here