We are Europe Citizens' Agora, 2019 1st Edition

Budapest, 22-23 February 2019
We are Europe Citizens' Agora is a public political event co-organised by “We are Europe” partners in view to consolidating the participant organisations’ and citizens skills, offering them political visibility and reinforce cross-border partnerships. The event is organised by UEF in cooperation with UEF Hungary, JEF and The Spinelli Group.
In the context of raising populism in Europe, where civil society actors operate in hostile political environments, when democracy and rule of law are endangered, and 6 months prior the European Parliament elections, the We are Europe Agora in Budapest aims to stimulate and organise a reflection and debate on these issues and their future of Europe involving civil society actors and political representatives from European Union member states and in particular those from the Visegrad countries.
The Agora promotes societal engagement within the debate on the Future of Europe. It allows participants to address crucial topics in this particular context, such as future and challenges of democracy and rule of law in Europe and the Visegrad prospective on the future of Europe debate.
We are Europe Citizens' Agora 1st edition
Three months from the European Parliament elections and in the context of raising populism in Europe, the We are Europe Agora in Budapest aims to stimulate and organise a reflection on the challenges for democracy and rule of law and their impact on the debate on the future of Europe involving political representatives and civil society actors from European Union member states and particular from the Visegrad countries.
The event will start on Friday 22nd of February late afternoon with a public political debate with members of the European Parliament from The Spinelli Group, local politicians and civil society from Hungary and other Visegrad-Group countries. It will continue on Saturday in the form of seminar with experts, academics and representatives of civil society organisations.
Fifty participants from all over Europe will join the local participants from Hungary.
The event includes the sessions on:
- Towards the European Parliament elections: what is at stake for Hungary and for Europe?
- Democracy and rule of law: European trends and the Central European perspective”
- Hungary 15 years after the European Union accession: perspectives on Europe and challenges for democracy and rule of law
- Scenarios for the Visegrad Countries and their impact on the future of Europe/ between national and European Sovereignty
- What can the European Union do for the Democracy and Rule of Law across Europe?
- UEF Political Commission meetings
Programme
The programme planed on three days consist of three sections:
Friday, 22nd of February afternoon: Public debate in the frame of the Citizens’ Agora
Saturday, 23rd of February morning and afternoon: Citizens Agora activities
Saturday, 23rd of February early evening and Sunday 24th of February morning: Political Commission working groups
Please find full programme here.
Participation Conditions
The event is open to civil society activists officially residents in an EU member state, an EU-candidate country, a country being part of the European Economic Area
Civil society activists meeting the following criteria are eligible to participate in the “We are Europe: Citizens’ Agora” programme:
- Applying candidate need to be officially be resident in an EU member state, an EU-candidate country, a country being part of the European Economic Area
- Applying candidate must agree with the main objectives of the “We are Europe” scheme and pursue the objective of an ever closer union between European citizens and nations
Travel Reimbursement
Participants residing outside Budapest will be eligible to reimbursement of their travel expenses (accommodation and subsistence excluded) 70% and up to a maximum reimbursement of 150 EUR. Reimbursements will be made on the spot and in cash only, upon presentation of proof of payment. Please, don’t forget to bring the original receipts and tickets with you.
Contribution
Accepted participants are required to make a contribution of €60 to help towards covering the costs of venue hire, catering (accommodation for event days, a welcome reception, breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner and coffee breaks), documents and other expenses.
The contribution fee is waived for local, Budapest based participants.
The contribution should be transferred immediately after your registration confirmation on the following account:
Union of European Federalists
BNP Paribas Fortis
Agence Quartier Léopold
Place du Luxembourg 14B - 1050 Ixelles
IBAN: BE69 2100 3760 9578
SWIFT CODE: GEBABEBB
"We are Europe Citizens Agora": *First Name* *Last Name*"
Venue and accommodation
Friday 22 February:
The political debate in cooperation with The Spinelli Group will take place at the Kossuth Klub, Muzeum u. 7, 1088 Budapest
Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 February
Accommodation in double rooms is provided in the European Youth Centre Budapest upon a request in the registration form.
Click here to see the venue map of the European Youth Centre (Saturday and Sunday).
Registration form
Registration is compulsory by Saturday 26 of January by filling in the registration form.