The "Words of Europe" project, supported by the European Commission with the aim of creating moments of participation in view of the 2024 European elections, has landed in France: Association Community in Arques, in the north of the country, has already promoted four events in January, involving people of different cultures and languages to gather their opinions on the future of the European Union.

Not far from Calais

The situation of refugees and non-citizens in Europe is complex: these people, often fleeing war and poverty, face many difficulties in European countries, including lack of job opportunities, limited access to health and social services and discrimination. Inclusion of these groups of people is crucial for the future of Europe: inclusiveness is synonymous with greater cultural diversity and increased economic opportunities, which help lay the foundations for a more inclusive society and promote European values of equality, freedom and justice. Arques is located not far from Calais, where for years the desperation of cross-channel migrants has been at play: a crucial transit point for asylum seekers trying to reach the UK from France.

Let the refugees have their say

As part of its commitment to the important work of the EU and individual countries to ensure that refugees and non-citizens have access to the rights and opportunities due to them, so that they are able to integrate into European society, on 23 January, the Community Association inaugurated its series of events related to the WE project at Coallia, an NGO that provides assistance to refugees. During the event, 12 people, including mothers and children, participated in a group exercise to imagine the future of the EU in 2027. Despite the language barrier, the participants were able to effectively communicate their ideas and chose four key words to describe their vision of the future: unity, peace, freedom and love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Un post condiviso da WordsOfEurope (@wordsofeurope)

Future Dialogues and World Café

On 25 and 28 January, the Community Association then organised two events at its headquarters in downtown Arques. Participants were divided into three groups and used the 'Future Dialogues' and 'World Café' methodology to imagine the future of the EU. All participants were involved in the three groups and, in the end, only four words were chosen to summarise the overall vision of Europe. In the first meeting the words that emerged were Innovation, Sustainability, Cooperation and Interculturality, while in the 28 January event the Words of Europe chosen by participants were Solidarity, Sharing, Communication and Equality.

Pour toi c'est quoi l'Union Européenne?

NEETs are young people who are not in education, employment or training, 'Not in Education, Employment or Training': according to statistics, NEETs are currently 14.2 % of the population aged 15-29. The last French event of the month took place on 31 January at 'Mission Locale', a French public institution that aims to support young people between 16 and 25 years old who are no longer in school in entering the labour market. The meeting started with a question: Pour toi c'est quoi l'Union Européenne?
Their vision of Europe was realised by brainstorming four words: Exchange, Sustainability, Vision and Diversity.

The 'Words of Europe' project is providing an opportunity for disadvantaged groups, including refugees, non-citizens and those living in Europe without citizenship of a Member State, to share their views on the future of the EU and to emphasise the importance of inclusion in shaping the direction of the continent.