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    EU & Europe – discover your neighbours!

    The 2004 EU enlargement has a major impact on the relationships between different European countries and the EU within its new borders. AEGEE’s Yearplan Project "EU & Europe" aims at discussing questions of identity both for the countries that remain outside these new borders and for the EU. This project is carried out by the International Politics Working Group of AEGEE-Europe (IPWG) within the 2004 Yearplan Topic "European Identity".

    Throughout the year, the multinational project team will conduct numerous activities to analyse different aspects of identity with reference to particular countries or regions (put together due to their similar relations with the EU) such as the Balkans, EFTA, Russia or Turkey.

    The starting point was the conference entitled "Europe’s (Torn?) Identity" held in Ljubljana in October 2003. 42 participants were discussing their local, regional, national, European and personal identity. They agreed that the overall goals for the "EU & Europe" project should be to:

    • present the characteristics of each of the target regions aforementioned and, consequently, challenge stereotypes about them
    • discuss possible definitions of what Europe is in terms of geography, customs, politics and culture
    • debate on the role the EU has in Europe through the relations it develops with the other countries / regions
    • explore possibilities of action concerning the recently drafted "Wider Europe – Neighbourhood: A New Framework for the Relations with our Eastern and Southeastern Neighbours" of the European Commission (March 2003)

    The project consists of a series of seminars taking place in different parts of Europe, accompanied by preparatory activities, a survey / knowledge contest about the European Union, additional workshops and publications. The scheduled seminars are the following:

    • Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine & EU (Minsk)
    • Russia & EU (Moskva, Sankt Petersburg)
    • Bulgaria, Romania & EU (Cluj-Napoca)
    • Turkey & EU (Izmir)
    • Western Balkans & EU (Banja Luka, Sarajevo)
    • EFTA & EU (Oslo)

    About 300 participants in total will acquire a deeper knowledge and understanding of the target regions and develop more positive attitudes towards the EU, European integration and international co-operation. Through this project, AEGEE wants to contribute to the shaping of a European identity that is not limited to the territory of the European Union.

    source: AEGEE Gazeta 4/2004

  • If you want to know more, take a look at the project description or download the results powerpoint.

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