(11/17/2009)

Open group

Moderator:A Soul for Europe (ASfE)

The “No” in France, the Netherlands and Ireland showed that there is a need to clarify the relationship between European institutions and the citizens. We believe that it is possible to create a Europe of the Europeans, rather than just a Europe of institutions and regulations. It is our responsibility to take a hand in Europe’s political mechanisms. We need new communication paths and innovative co-operation models between civil society and the European institutions, national governments and other authorities.


Culture holds Europe together


Building Europe means integrating national histories, value systems, world views and fostering intercultural dialogue. We believe that the power of culture must be harnessed for the European integration more efficiently. All fields of policy beyond the cultural sector, from social to foreign affairs, must develop a cultural component. We do not lobby for the financial support of the cultural sector, but rather we see culture as essential for the full development of Europe’s potentials. This process should be a bottom-up rather than a top-down process driven by civil society from all sectors.

The "A Soul for Europe" Initiative includes leading European politicians and decision-makers from all areas of society, resulting in the launch of joint discussions and campaigns. At the very heart of the "A Soul for Europe" Initiative is the Strategy Group: 55 civil society actors from 21 countries from the areas of culture, politics, business, research and media. The Strategy Group is responsible for the conceptual development and dissemination of the idea of "A Soul for Europe" through projects and initiatives.


The link between civil society and the European Parliament


From bases in Amsterdam, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels, Porto and Tbilisi the “A Soul for Europe” Initiative is building an international network of European cities and regions, the cultural sector and business as well as European policy-makers. The initiative is supported by a cross-party Intergroup in the European Parliament, which provides a link between the work of the civil society initiative and that of political decision-makers. This novel co-operation model is characterised by two important principles: the private initiative’s independence and the willingness of parliamentarians and political decision-makers to act as intermediaries to provide access to the “realm of power”.

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