From Local to Global: Local Citizens Contributing To EU Global Policies

The content of this page is displayed in standardized format to serve as quick reference; and facilitate its use during preparation of new applications. Do not change the content of this page without consulting with the project coordinator. For encyclopedic details about the project, please refer to its main page. Background One of the key provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon is promoting the values of the EU in the world by contributing to peace and security; sustainable development of the Earth; solidarity and mutual respect among peoples; free and fair trade; eradication of poverty; protection of human rights; respect for and enhancement of international law. It is very important to give citizens an opportunity to interact and participate in realisation of these provisions, but they have to be aware of key principles and main issues of the external EU policies. Special Eurobarometer on Development Aid in times of economic turmoil (2009) shows that only 25% of Lithuanian and 11% of Cypriot citizens are aware about the Millennium Development Goals – key principles for supporting developing countries. This report also names poverty as the main challenge in developing countries (46% of LT and 47% of CY respondents agree with the statement). Also 81% of Cypriots and 51% of Lithuanians think that climate change is a very serious problem (Europeans’ attitudes towards climate change, Special Eurobarometer, 2009). The above mentioned data shows the importance to raise awareness of citizens in Lithuania and Cyprus on the main provisions towards mentioned issues that are of EU policy interest in order to empower them to become active for supporting their realization.

Formal Project Description Contract Title From Local to Global: Local Citizens Contributing To EU Global Policies Project Acronym Local to Global Donor European Commission, Europe for Citizens programme, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency Lead Partner Jaunimo Karjeros Centras (Youth Career and Advising Centre) Call/Action Europe for Citizens programme, Action 2 - Active Civil Society in Europe, Support for projects initiated by civil society organisations Agreement n° 509378-EFC-1-2010-1-LT-EFC-CSP Countries of the action Lithuania, Cyprus Cost of Action €91,501.00 Grant €54,901.00 Cost for FWC €33,205.00 Grant for FWC €19,923.00 Dates 01/10/2010 - 30/09/2011 Short Description This project aims to raise awareness of people, who live in rural communities in Lithuania and Cyprus, on the key provision of Treaty of Lisbon, let them perceive how they are interrelated to the local reality and enable them to find concrete solutions for coping with these issues through cooperation at European level. Main Page link this to the main page of the project Website write the url of the website of the project About Project From Local to Global

Overall objective(s) The project is developed to achieve 2 objectives. The first objective is dedicated to production and realization of information campaigns by developing different types of materials for raising awareness on global issues of EU interest in rural communities in Lithuania and Cyprus. This objective will be achieved with the help of 3 activities: 1) Development of scenarios; 2)Production of the materials; 3) Realisation of the information campaigns. The second objective of the project is to raise an international debate on the role of rural communities in supporting and supplementing EU external policies with new ideas and actions. This objective will be achieved through arranging an international debate of rural community leaders and representatives from local authorities on the role of small communities in the process of implementation of the EU external policies. The project results will touch people living in rural communities in Lithuania and Cyprus. Community leaders will be enabled and engaged into awareness raising campaigns for their community members. Being exposed by the information, materials and events, they will change their attitude and behavior towards global issues of EU interest, support local initiatives related to coping with them, become active community members, feel to be European citizens.