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Future of Europe Programme YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II EUact - Final Report www.globsec.org AUTHOR Zuzana Podracká, Research Fellow, GLOBSEC Policy Institute DISCLAIMER This publication is a reflection on the facts and opinions as expressed by those that participated in the project’s activities. GLOBSEC Policy Institute assumes no responsibility for those facts and opinions or their subsequent use, and neither does it neccessarily endorse them. The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors and participants, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Financially supported by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union © GLOBSEC GLOBSEC Policy Institute Bratislava, Slovakia November 2019 YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT (3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT 4 PARTNERS 5 EUACT IN NUMBERS 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8 INTRODUCTION 13 PERCEPTIONS OF THE EU 14 (ACTIVE) EU CITIZENSHIP 19 CITIZENS’ ENGAGEMENT – PUBLIC DEBATES VS. SOCIAL MEDIA 22 TRANSNATIONAL REFLECTION GROUPS – KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 25 Education and Opportunities for Youth 26 Environment and Sustainability 27 EU as a Global Actor 28 Migration, Internal and External Security 29 Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion 30 4) YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT ABOUT This publication was compiled as a final analysis 1. Focus groups conducted in Bulgaria, Germany, of the project ‘EP elections and beyond: active Poland and Slovakia during November 2018 participation of citizens at all EU levels’ (EUact) that aimed to: 2. Transnational reflection groups that took place in Bratislava in November 2018 and September 1. encourage sustained and active engagement 2019 of the citizens, especially young people, in the decision- making process of the EU. 3. Public debates focused on the May 2019 European Parliament elections that took place 2. enhance the democratic legitimacy of the EU in Berlin, Sofia, Lublin and Bratislava between by offering valuable recommendations to EU March-April 2019 policymakers. 4. ‘Get out and vote’ social media campaign The report provides reflections on the perceptions conducted in Bulgaria, Germany, Poland and of young people related to their attitudes towards Slovakia between April-May 2019. the European Union (EU), their understanding of EU citizenship and activism, as well as reflections on the ways to encourage them to be active EU citizens. The qualitative and quantitative data summarised in this report are a result of a 14 month-long project that involved the following key activities: YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT (5 PARTNERS Das Progressive Zentrum, Germany GLOBSEC, Slovakia Slavyani Foundation, Bulgaria Higher School of International Relations and Communication, Poland 6) YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT (7 EUACT IN NUMBERS Focus Groups Bulgaria Germany Poland Slovakia 32 Attendees 10 Attendees 16 Attendees 39 Attendees 15 17 2 8 8 8 19 20 Transnational Reflection Groups 62 young leaders and experts 11 European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, 31 31 FYROM, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Poland and Slovakia) Public Debates #EUsparring 2019: Elections to the European Parliament: Contest of ideas between Bulgaria in the EU after 2019 EU-candidates EU Debate 2019 Slovakia in the EU after 2019 29 March 2019, Sofia 26 March 2019, Berlin 6 April 2019, Lublin 11 April 2019, Bratislava 373 Attendees (plus 318 people watching 118 Attendees 113 Attendees 77 Attendees through livestream) Bulgaria Germany Poland Slovakia Social Media Campaign Total number of views (includes YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and direct views at events) МЛАДЕЖТА И ЕВРОИЗБОРИТЕ: Werde Teil des TeamEuropa! W strone nowoczesnej Europy Ideme Voliť Eurovoľby 2019: Vak Európa Среща организирана от Фондация EN: ‘Be Part of Team Europe!’ EN: ‘Towards Modern Europe’ ‘Voting in the EU Elections 2019: European Bag’ “Славяни” по програма “ЕВРОПА НА” EN: ‘Vote for your Europe’ 725 727 views 1 206 964 impressions 1236 Views 5202 Views 1184 Views 273 850 people reached Bulgaria Germany Poland Slovakia 8) YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PERCEPTIONS OF THE EU What do young people appreciate about the EU? Should the EU remain an economic union, or be- There was a shared appreciation of the four come a union of values? freedoms – the free movement of goods, services, people, and money were firmly present Young people in Bulgaria and Slovakia practically in young people’s lives. avoided discussing the EU in other than economic terms. Some Slovak participants argued that the Polish participants emphasised the opportunities EU should stay an economic union; Bulgarian to change their place of residence, legal stay participants disputed the very concept of and employment in the European countries that ‘European values’. the EU membership has given them, as well as great opportunities for students, especially German participants saw a cultural union, and the Erasmus programs, projects and grants for a union of values as much more difficult, if not researchers, and the development of science. impossible, to achieve compared to the economic A greater openness of the Polish society to integration. otherness and changes resulting from joining the Polish participants were in favour of a collective EU, as well as greater adaptation of Poles to EU social narrative which embraces all EU citizens. requirements were also noted. Slovaks were mostly apathetic – despite all the What has the EU done for its citizens? benefits of EU membership from freedom of The citizens’ perceptions of what the Union does movement, visa-free and problem-free travel and for them and the reality are not always aligned. study, through common currency, to EU projects that aid the country’s development, some young Bulgarian participants saw the EU as a ‘big people did not express an attitude at all, or were brother’ in terms of foreign policy, but did not not interested in the topic; some even questioned notice ‘the EU around them’ in social affairs. the added value of EU membership. Their perceptions were narrowed to ‘European investments’ and ‘European funds’. German participants too criticised young people for taking the positive effects of the EU for For the Poles, the presence of the EU around granted. The EU is active and affects everyone, them was clearly visible in their city, and the but many people are either not interested or do country in which they live. They pointed to the not know. improvement of living standards of residents after Poland’s accession to the EU, development What lies ahead for the EU? of entrepreneurship in Poland, improvement of the quality of roads, buildings, squares in cities, The future of the Union was perceived as and playgrounds for children. uncertain; Brexit is the biggest test to date for the existence of the EU. In contrast, German participants identified the same benefits of the EU’s presence in Germany, Young people in Bulgaria, Germany and Poland but a distinct lack of the visibility of EU projects. do not see the total breakdown of the EU as likely to happen in the foreseeable future. Some In Slovakia, the public’s low familiarity with the expect to see a new type of formation but are not activities of European institutions and weak able to identify it. Others feel optimistic and see awareness of the citizens about what the EU’s today’s questioning and weakening of the EU as existence means for their daily existence turned normal in a cycle of ups and downs. into a negative view of the EU. Slovaks were the most Eurosceptic and argued that the EU will have to face changes internally and externally. YOUNG PEOPLE, EU CITIZENSHIP AND ACTIVISM VOL. II | EUACT - FINAL REPORT (9 (ACTIVE) EU CITIZENSHIP of the mother tongue, and a good understanding of the political situation in the country. Do young people identify themselves as European? It is difficult to mobilise people on the national, let Germans either identified themselves as alone the EU- level. Increasing citizens’ interest European straightaway or said their national or would be easier if the EU tackled everyday, regional politics was more important to them. especially economic, problems, and gave more For some, the EU citizenship does not differ that prominence to social or environmental policies. much from the German citizenship. There is a lack of a clear message on the part In Poland, most participants see themselves as of the EU institutions that strong involvement Poles first and then as Europeans, despite being of citizens would matter. The EU itself does not strongly connected to the EU. The difference encourage anyone to be an active EU citizen, as for them is expressed in cultural and historical there is a ‘glass ceiling’ above which no ordinary identity; greater bond with the members of the citizen has the chance to access. Polish state than with members of other EU Member States; and declaration of the priority of There is a lot of mistrust towards representatives the Member States’ interests over the interests of elected to the EP – rather than listening to the the EU community. ‘voice of the people’, they were seen as pursuing their own or party goals and interests. Polish and Bulgarian participants see themselves as European because they enjoy the benefits of What kind of EU do the young people want to see? being citizens of EU Member States, including free relocation in the Member States, voting German participants sought to identify a new, rights in elections to the European Parliament, the more supranational model of the Union.

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