- Published: 14.06.2013.
The NGOs’ Open Days and European year of the Citizens 2013
The NGOs’ Open Days and European Year of the Citizens 2013 Programme was presented on Tuesday, 11 June 2013, in the European Union Information Centre in Zagreb.
The Goal of the Manifestation that is holding throughout Croatia from 12 to 15 June is to getting closer the programmes and projects of public benefit that implement associations in Croatia, as reported by the Head of the Office, Igor Vidačak. About 430 associations will open their doors to the citizens next few days, offering the cross-section of the activities and programmes by organising various activities. The interested citizens can find more information on the web page www.daniudruga.hr which provide easy search through the interactive map.
The NGOs’ Days manifestation is an opportunity to be informed on the associations’ programmes and services throughout Croatia during the European Year of the Citizens. The associations are the seeds of informed, active and responsible citizens in all mature democracies. Inclusion in the work of association is the good way to understanding and practicing of own rights in different areas, but also one of the way to taking responsibility for resolving problems in local community. We hope that the citizens will respond in large numbers to the NGOs’ Open Days and support the great volunteers and activists who live every day the changes that want to see in the world around them - said Igor Vidačak.
The NGOs’ Open Days fit into a series of activities organised across Europe this year to mark the 2013 European Year of Citizens. The goal is to motivate citizens on informing and exercising their rights and to participate in decision-making processes on matters of public interest.
The European Year of Citizens 2013 focuses on the rights of every EU citizen. If the citizens are familiar with the rights and if they exercise them, they will benefit as individuals. To the Croatian citizens particularly interesting can be rights related to freedom of movement and residence in the EU, the right to non-discrimination on the nationality grounds, the right to vote and the election right, the right to appeal to the Ombudsman, the right to consular protection for EU citizens, the right to health care abroad, the possibility of studying and many other rights that citizens should be informed about. - said Avis Beneš, Head of the Information Centre of the European Union in Zagreb.
Mirela Despotović, member of the EU year of Citizens Croatian Alliance Coordination Committee, explained that the Alliance promotes activities aiming at building the EU as a friend of citizens, who would no longer be limited to economic preoccupation and would facilitate and support different expressions and promotion of active citizenship.
Croatian Alliance for EU year of Citizens was founded by the initiative of 7 Croatian CSOs modelled after the alliances established in other EU Member States. Croatian Alliance for EU year of Citizens modelled after the European working groups is working through three groups: civil dialogue in crisis context; unique single whole of EU citizenship - economic, social and political, while the third working group deals with the EU inhabitants’ community - Despotović concluded.
Accession of Croatia to the EU presents a series of unknowns for many of Croatian fellow citizens. Things should not be that way, because the EU exists to be a platform for further development of democracy and improving fundamental rights of the citizens. I will recommend to everyone to inform him/herself on individual key rights, whether it is online shopping, studying in other EU countries, healthcare abroad, how to get information from EU institutions, or asking the European Commission to change the law - because we all will meet these questions, sooner or later - said Gordan Kožulj.
I had learned a long time ago, thanks to my profession that borders between countries are only obstacles between people. Born on the Day of Europe, 9 May (some years later, though), I happily welcomed the moment of Croatian accession to the EU. To love own, but appreciate and respect someone else’s… are principles I stick with in upgrading of my children. Therefore I believe that it is important to educate and raise citizens awareness that they get many rights, as well as responsibilities by accessing to the EU, like other citizens of the Europe - said the ambassador of the European year of the Citizens Sanja Doležal.
News
The Goal of the Manifestation that is holding throughout Croatia from 12 to 15 June is to getting closer the programmes and projects of public benefit that implement associations in Croatia, as reported by the Head of the Office, Igor Vidačak. About 430 associations will open their doors to the citizens next few days, offering the cross-section of the activities and programmes by organising various activities. The interested citizens can find more information on the web page www.daniudruga.hr which provide easy search through the interactive map.
The NGOs’ Days manifestation is an opportunity to be informed on the associations’ programmes and services throughout Croatia during the European Year of the Citizens. The associations are the seeds of informed, active and responsible citizens in all mature democracies. Inclusion in the work of association is the good way to understanding and practicing of own rights in different areas, but also one of the way to taking responsibility for resolving problems in local community. We hope that the citizens will respond in large numbers to the NGOs’ Open Days and support the great volunteers and activists who live every day the changes that want to see in the world around them - said Igor Vidačak.
The NGOs’ Open Days fit into a series of activities organised across Europe this year to mark the 2013 European Year of Citizens. The goal is to motivate citizens on informing and exercising their rights and to participate in decision-making processes on matters of public interest.
The European Year of Citizens 2013 focuses on the rights of every EU citizen. If the citizens are familiar with the rights and if they exercise them, they will benefit as individuals. To the Croatian citizens particularly interesting can be rights related to freedom of movement and residence in the EU, the right to non-discrimination on the nationality grounds, the right to vote and the election right, the right to appeal to the Ombudsman, the right to consular protection for EU citizens, the right to health care abroad, the possibility of studying and many other rights that citizens should be informed about. - said Avis Beneš, Head of the Information Centre of the European Union in Zagreb.
Mirela Despotović, member of the EU year of Citizens Croatian Alliance Coordination Committee, explained that the Alliance promotes activities aiming at building the EU as a friend of citizens, who would no longer be limited to economic preoccupation and would facilitate and support different expressions and promotion of active citizenship.
Croatian Alliance for EU year of Citizens was founded by the initiative of 7 Croatian CSOs modelled after the alliances established in other EU Member States. Croatian Alliance for EU year of Citizens modelled after the European working groups is working through three groups: civil dialogue in crisis context; unique single whole of EU citizenship - economic, social and political, while the third working group deals with the EU inhabitants’ community - Despotović concluded.
Accession of Croatia to the EU presents a series of unknowns for many of Croatian fellow citizens. Things should not be that way, because the EU exists to be a platform for further development of democracy and improving fundamental rights of the citizens. I will recommend to everyone to inform him/herself on individual key rights, whether it is online shopping, studying in other EU countries, healthcare abroad, how to get information from EU institutions, or asking the European Commission to change the law - because we all will meet these questions, sooner or later - said Gordan Kožulj.
I had learned a long time ago, thanks to my profession that borders between countries are only obstacles between people. Born on the Day of Europe, 9 May (some years later, though), I happily welcomed the moment of Croatian accession to the EU. To love own, but appreciate and respect someone else’s… are principles I stick with in upgrading of my children. Therefore I believe that it is important to educate and raise citizens awareness that they get many rights, as well as responsibilities by accessing to the EU, like other citizens of the Europe - said the ambassador of the European year of the Citizens Sanja Doležal.