Bringing Europe closer to its Citizens

Discussion about European Identity

Another issue the participants were occupied with was European identity. Magdalena Baier and Kamila Mazurek outlined the history of European integration, the official and unofficial understanding of European integration as well as the problem of nationalism in Europe. We also discussed with seniors their perception of European Integration. After the presentation our seniors were asked three questions on the blog:

WHAT DOES EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MEAN TO YOU?

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION OF YOUR COUNTRY TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION OR EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY?

HOW IS DEEPER INTEGRATION IN EUROPE POSSIBLE?

So from my perspective I am still a very strong advocate of European Union and indeed despite the financial mess we are in as a country we also have a very strong bond and affinity with Europe. Like everything in life on balance the whole experience of the past 40 years of membership is very positive ... I think we need to work with other global leaders to find better ways to make a stronger more integrated World not just Europe. A world that respects all traditions but seeks to uplift all beings and use for the good of all the limited resources on our beautiful planet. - Paddy Early on the blog SeniorWeb.

For me personally European integration doesn’t mean nothing, cause in ex common country Yugoslavia we usued to live very good and freely. With our red comunist passport we could travel all over the world. I had everything in that old (comunist) regime. The life was much easier, costs were law, everybody had an apartment and job, free medical care, the school system was free of costs and our country was respected in the rest of the world ... Now after 22 years of “democracy” Neoliberalism is ruling our country, corruptions everywhere…The middle class is disapearing and is pushing to the poverty, the costs of life are high, saleries law, the rate of unemployment is high ... - Vlasta Ivić on the blog SeniorWeb.

My attitude to the European Union is ambivalent. I know we can not stay outside. For me personally, the only change occurred – traveling without borders according to the Schengen Agreement. But it means that criminals and gypsies come to us freely from less developed countries. This is a really big problem. - Eva Martínkova on the blog SeniorWeb.

Find out more opinions of the European seniors about these issues visiting our blog SeniorWeb.

How to find Grants for Senior Projects

On the last working day the participants had a opportunity to learn about the programmes of European Union for seniors and ways to find the funding for small projects. Michael Seidler, Managing Director of EuroConsults in Berlin presented examples of such programmes and spoke with our participants directly about their project ideas. Below you can see the presentation of Michael Seidler and the information about the programme concerning the funding period 2007-2013.