Our values are diverse – conservative, social democratic, green, liberal and more – but we all want to live in a free and democratic Europe. Therefore, we want politics in Europe to improve.

Every year, this book presents 80 great political projects. We bring the work of courageous and creative politicians to the fore so that it may serve as a source of inspiration to others.

The Founders and Partners of The Innovation in Politics Awards Dalia Bankauskaite, Malgorzata Bonikowska, Stephen Boucher, Helfried Carl, Alexander Dourchev, Juergen H. Gangoly, Daniel Heller, Jakob Huber, Fidelma Joyce, Patricia Kahane, Julia Kozak, Lena Morozova-Friha, Philippe Narval, Lisa Pelling, David Schoibl, Dominic Schwickert, Paul Sills, Martin Slater, Edward Strasser, Elke Zuckermann, Ronny Zuckermann ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many individuals and organisations make The Innovation in Politics Last but not least, we want to thank all politicians who submitted Awards possible. They deserve our gratitude and their credit. their projects to the awards. They value our idea and they trust us – as we trust them! Thanks to the hospitality of the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, we can celebrate the finalists of the Innovation in Politics Awards and Please accept our heartful thanks – and enjoy our joint success. their work at the Great Festival Hall of Vienna City Hall, in all its glory.

Executive City Councillor of Vienna, Juergen Czernohorszky, invited The Founders and Partners of all finalists to present their exceptional political projects to the media, The Innovation in Politics Institute experts and politicians.

Wolfgang Hofer, Erich Hampel and Mariella Schurz of the B&C Foundation decided to support our initiative from the early stages. The Federation of Austrian Industries helped us to improve the gathering of all finalists for a fruitful exchange.

We want to thank all scouts all over Europe, who in 2018 identified more than 600 great political projects.

1,053 jurors from all countries of the Council of Europe applied a great effort to judge all submitted projects fair-minded, enabling us to present to you 80 selected finalists. We thank them for their crucial contribution, their responsibility and their time.

Many thanks to all members of our team, our friends, and those who support our initiative with their excellent work: Elisabeth Bartovics, Elena Cerutti, Roberta Constantini, Alexander Czjzek, Bernhard Drumel, Paulina Fröhlich, Georg Gangoly, Dunja Ganser, Alban Genty, Alexandre Heully, Amadea Horvath, Margherita Pacileo, Anjuli Patel, Bettina Rausch, Maria-Elsa Salvo, Samuel Schaab, Support us: Anna Scislowska, Ventzislav Shabansky, Roman Snehotta, Markus Stefan, Beniamin Urbanek, Martin Wolfram, Michael @politicsawards Zerz and Zackory Maguire. /politicsawards The Innovation in Politics Institute Margaretenstrasse 70, 1050 Vienna, Austria innovationinpolitics.eu #IPAgala18

2 3 WELCOME TO THE INNOVATION IN POLITICS AWARDS!

People say to me that they see our European democracies headed you are core members of this group. Your work is ground-breaking, downhill, resulting in less freedom for all of us and in a weak Europe. exemplary and it serves as a source of inspiration. My answer to that: Well, it’s up to us only. May you enjoy reading about this year´s 80 finalist projects, chosen Democratic politics in Europe has to improve. But how? In some by an ever larger hard working jury of 1.053 European citizens, as places it already works well. Every day, the brightest minds in politics much as we did! all over Europe – regardless of party affiliation – realise exemplary We believe that for us, and for our children, there is no alternative to initiatives and projects which improve the lives of their communities, a democratic Europe. Our core European values – democracy, social regions or countries. And by doing so, all our lives. balance, prosperity and human rights – depend on it. The Innovation in Politics Awards put liberal democracy center Have a very nice evening! stage. Even better, we put the people who work with and for liberal democracy center stage: Amazing political projects and the creative and courageous minds who have the will and energy to make them Edward Strasser become real. Founder, The Innovation in Politics Institute It’s a great job, and we are so glad to be doing it! Now in their second year, our Europe-wide Innovation in Politics Awards have grown and extended their reach and impact. They will continue to grow next year.

Also, we have become a Europe-wide service organisation for politicians and political institutions. For specific topics and tasks, we connect those who want to improve the way politics are done with the insights of those who have found a way to do it. All of you who are here tonight – the fnalists of the Innovation in Politics Awards –

4 5 Innovation in Politics: a concept which, put into practice, means I believe that the Innovation in Politics Awards are a very important better governance, better public services and a better quality of life initiative, making me glad and proud to be associated with the for all of us. And which also means hope for our societies in difficult individuals and institutions who support it. times, when democracy throughout Europe – and in fact throughout the world – is threatened by citizens’ disillusionment and frustration with worn-out, "old-style" politics and politicians. Patricia Kahane Founder, The Innovation in Politics Institute I admit that I have been greatly worried by recent developments in a number of European countries whereby – after an unprecedented period of peace, prosperity and social progress – a return to darker times now suddenly appears possible. We also have to acknowledge that at least some of the public’s resentment which fuels these worrying developments is caused by real grievances and real shortcomings in the way our communities, regions and countries are run.

The Innovation in Politics Awards aim to improve that – not with theoretical treatises or pretentious advice on how things should be run, but by shining the light on existing innovative projects that offer proven solutions to problems which many of us share. By calling political innovators before the curtain, The Innovation in Politics Awards not only honour their creativity and competence, but also encourage others to emulate them, and provide politicians throughout Europe with model solutions for improving their constituents’ lives.

6 7 The achievements of the European Union include over half a With this in mind, it is very important to us to support successfully century of peace, stability and prosperity. A thriving economy implemented projects and initiatives, and to pay tribute to them. provides the foundation for this – driven by the frameworks in We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Innovation in place in member states and Europe-wide, as well as by initiatives Politics Institute, which has established these awards, and to all undertaken by courageous and creative policy-makers who break those who submitted entries, whose commitment contributes to new ground. the implementation of new initiatives and ideas. From a long-term perspective, it is important to support an entrepreneurial environment that encourages cooperation across borders, and to attract the best talent in technology and Erich Hampel management. In addition, there must be room for creativity and Chairman of the Board, B&C Private Foundation innovation that bring benefits to citizens.

The B&C Private Foundation is committed to these goals. B&C was founded in 2000 with the objective of supporting Austrian entrepreneurship over the long term. We have majority shareholdings in AMAG Austria Metall AG, Lenzing AG and Semperit AG Holding – all of them large Austrian industrial companies that are active globally – with the aim of permanently keeping the know-how and headquarters of these internationally competitive businesses in Austria. In this way we help to secure jobs and promote Austria as a business location. In addition, we support numerous initiatives that encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

8 9 We are facing unprecedented political and economic uncertainty, The good news is that innovation in politics is already taking place – many of our post-World War II institutions are being challenged, the and solutions to tricky problems already exist! Across Europe, politi- economic order and trade order are unravelling and democracy is cians at all levels have implemented innovative, creative and effective increasingly being questioned. Even though we are living in complex initiatives. To share this knowledge is essential in "future-making" in and turbulent times, we must not forget that we are doing very well. which governments play a pivotal role. We are seeing growth and low unemployment rates, and thanks to The Innovation in Politics Institute, with its European Conference on the social market economy and liberal democracy, we are living in a Best Practice in Political Innovation, creates just this space – to listen, society with social peace. All this has also been made possible by to learn, to share and to discuss smart politics that contribute to the sound policy-making. well-being and resilience of our society and to protecting democracy. This position of strength gives us the free space to try out new We are pleased to be a partner! approaches. Therefore, this is just the right time to catch up and to re-imagining the role of government and our institutions, politics as well as our society. It is the right time to encourage political leaders, Georg Kapsch policy-makers and political minds to be courageous and innovative in President of the Federation of Austrian Industries their answers and offers to the legitimate concerns of their citizens. And it is the right time to strengthen democracy as a fundamental prerequisite for prosperity.

Our daily close cooperation with politics and administration shows us that good political leadership and innovative policy-making are essential in times like these – because it is not just about working more effectively today, but above all about preparing society well for tomorrow.

10 11 CONTENTS

2 Acknowledgments COMMUNITY 4 Preface, Edward Strasser 58 City West: room for new city ideas » GERMANY 6 Preface, Patricia Kahane 60 Community mobilisation through children » LITHUANIA 8 Preface, Erich Hampel 62 Cooking and chatting in Bielefeld » GERMANY 10 Preface, Georg Kapsch 64 Dunmanway community garden » IRELAND 18 Keynote, Ulrike Guérot 66 "Every One Every Day" Barking and Dagenham » UNITED KINGDOM 28 Artists 68 Future of citizenship: local forum to promote active society » BULGARIA 70 Global Lithuania State and diaspora cooperation » LITHUANIA 72 Integrated system of solidary PROJECTS PROJECTS PROJECTS social economy in Częstochowa » POLAND 74 Re-Use Network » UNITED KINGDOM 76 Youth empowerment: the voice of young people represented CIVILISATION and executed in local government » BULGARIA

36 A School with a musical influence » BELGIUM

38 Bonn participates! – Bonn macht mit! » GERMANY DEMOCRACY 40 Digital Culture: Heritage for the future » BULGARIA 80 300K - Have your say - 42 Ebner-Inklusiv-Eschenbach » AUSTRIA participatory budgeting » IRELAND 44 European Solidarity Corps » BELGIUM 82 Building trust and social inclusion 46 Integrated senior policy project » POLAND with digital identities » SWITZERLAND

48 Open Commons Linz » AUSTRIA 84 Citizen empowerment: Problem solving in the community » BULGARIA 50 Polytechnic at primary school » BELGIUM 86 Citizens' Cabinet » BELGIUM 52 Reviving the community of Žiūrai » LITHUANIA 88 Engagement for Glarus! » SWITZERLAND 54 Wymiennikownia – youth centre for design and social innovation » POLAND 90 Including the citizen at the heart of parliamentary work » FRANCE

92 Legislatory Laboratories » FRANCE

12 13 94 Make government effective and efficient 134 Harraga Boys » ITALY through change management practices » LITHUANIA 136 Ireland's LGBTI+ Youth Strategy » IRELAND 96 Opin.me » GERMANY 138 Legislation & policy to protect victims 98 Participatory budget in Alytus: and tackle violence against women bringing more democracy and and domestic violence » IRELAND responsibility to the city residents » LITHUANIA 140 Perspective studies for equal opportunities » SWITZERLAND

142 Podkarpacka's Council of Women » POLAND

ECOLOGY 102 Gdynia Rain Garden » POLAND JOBS 104 Good Food Strategy: towards a sustainable 146 Boost by FC Rosengård » SWEDEN food system in the Brussels capital region » BELGIUM 148 Care for integration and related services 106 Green Budget » POLAND [email protected] » GERMANY 108 Natural resources heating: using mineral water spring 150 Graz fund for promotion and development » AUSTRIA for public schools heating » BULGARIA 152 Integrated home care development 110 Our soil for bees » AUSTRIA programme in Lithuania at long last » LITHUANIA 112 Regiothek » GERMANY 154 ON / OFF Factory » ITALY 114 Sustainability street by street (The Hague) » NETHERLANDS 156 Protection for freelance workers » IRELAND 116 The "Freiburgcup" » GERMANY 158 The Chef Duel » SWEDEN 118 The bank of recycling » ITALY 160 WAFF Education Account » AUSTRIA 120 The first hybrid bus line in Scandinavia » SWEDEN 162 Waltham Forest Servicestore » UNITED KINGDOM

164 Youth in Łódź » POLAND 40

HUMAN RIGHTS 124 Abortion prevention through PROSPERITY free access to contraceptives » SWEDEN 168 Atlantic Economic Corridor » IRELAND 126 Citizenship income granted » ITALY 170 Creative & digital district Charleroi » BELGIUM 128 Factory of Hope » ITALY 172 Digital Villages » GERMANY 130 Gdansk immigrant integration model - an innovation leading to more justice » POLAND 174 Helix (Newcastle) » UNITED KINGDOM

132 Handicap Equality Mission » FRANCE 176 Hotel Village » ITALY

14 15 178 KMU Digital - the austrian digitisation initiative » AUSTRIA

180 Regional Investment Society » FRANCE

182 Torino City Lab » ITALY

184 Villeurbanne at Heart » FRANCE

186 Waterford Greenway » IRELAND

QUALITY OF LIFE

190 #FreeInterrail » GERMANY

192 Adopt a grandad » ITALY

194 Civic Crowdfunding » ITALY

196 Community Labs » ITALY

198 Dublin Bikes » IRELAND 200 Free public transportation: reducing the cost of internal and external public travels » BULGARIA

202 Hospital of Cerdanya » FRANCE 204 Peace Link - building relations through sport » IRELAND 206 Secure online access to your own medical records » SWEDEN

208 Sugar Smart Bristol » UNITED KINGDOM

16 Ulrike Guérot

©Butzmann

SHORT BIOGRAPHY A REPUBLIC OF EUROPE – FROM A UNION OF EUROPEAN STATES Prof. Dr. Ulrike Guérot is professor at the Danube University in Krems, TO A REAL EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY? Austria and head of the Department for European Policy and the Study of Democracy. Moreover, she is the founder of the European Democracy Lab in Berlin, a think-tank generating innovative ideas for Europe. Besides working and teaching at universities in Europe and "À coup sûr, cette chose immense, the United States, Ulrike Guérot has worked at and directed la République européenne, nous l‘aurons." several European research institutes and think tanks. Her books Victor Hugo, Paris, 1872 ("Why Europe Must Become a Republic" in 2016 and "The New Civil War – the Open Europe and its Enemies" in 2017) hit best-selling marks in Germany and beyond. Her work has been widely translated In his essay After Europe, the political intellectual Ivan Krastev and published throughout Europe. raises the question of whether we are experiencing a comparable "disintegration moment", as was once the case with the multi-ethnic Habsburg empire or the Soviet Union. He aptly formulates it thus: @ulrikeguerot "The end … is both inevitable and inadvertent." Referring to Josef Roth’s novel Radetzky March, he notes that when political and @UlrikeGuerotPublic @europeanrep cultural artefacts disappear, they will do so abruptly. The end is the natural outcome of structural deficiencies and an unintended consequence of a sleepwalking process, a special moment with its own dynamic. It is legitimate to ask whether we are not moving towards such an epoch of changing Europe and whether – as Stefan Zweig once wrote – we as contemporaries are not able to recognise the historical moment that we are in and that is the potential collapse of the European integration projects. With Brexit looming

18 19 on the horizon in March 2019, with Poland and Hungary having squeezed into coalitions with the moderate right, were not able to sneaked out of European "Rule-of-Law" standards, the Italian hold their arguments about the social issue in the public arena, this budget crisis and European elections in May 2019, in which the political space was left to far-right. so-called populist parties could conquer the European Parliament in an unforeseen way, the EU is currently indeed not lacking in crises If the European idea is to be saved, clear and ambitious European and nobody out there seems to have a real idea how to inject life goals must now be pursued that go far beyond the five scenarios into the EU. for the future of the EU, which the Commission presented to the public in March 2017. From the banking crisis to the euro crisis, from austerity to refugee policies, from the Catalan independence A sober look at Europe today referendum to the next showdown of Brexit negotiations, the EU has to come out of the crisis mode it has been in for years, if the The EU has, in fact, fallen to a deep low. Last year it enjoyed the European idea still wants to conquer the hearts and minds of the confidence of only around 47 percent of all Europeans, even if people in the 21st century. the numbers rose slightly in the face of the Brexit debacle, which appears as a grubby European reality show, THE GREAT EROSION and interestingly, also in countries such as Europe and its citizens Hungary. However, for such a large political OF THE EUROPEAN IDEA project, even for the reestablishment of Europe The European citizens know this and are currently pressurising HAS LEFT DEEP MARKS à la Emmanuel Macron, such low support and the EU institutions. Roughly half of them want to go back to ON THE CONTINENT. interest from the public in many parts of the EU nationalism; the other half want a different Europe. A part of the is clearly not enough. The great erosion of the civil society, especially young people, is therefore more and more European idea has left deep marks on the passionate about reforming old structures of the EU and its continent. The party systems in most EU member states have so-called "Trilogy", which does not appropriately represent the collapsed along the dividing line of the positioning towards Europe, will of the European people, but is only governed by the European not least in the wake of the euro crisis, with parties in southern Council in a rather non-transparent and barely accountable manner. countries turning "populist" for the sake of austerity and parties in northern Europe turning "populist" for the sake of "no-transfer-union". This raises the question of what we are doing in this nearly The European social democrats have mostly disappeared, the Hegelian moment, in which a system is politically exhausted, but European left is deeply divided in all EU member states and the at the same time has no power to reform political vacuum is filled by nationalist parties that have come POPULISM COULD ONLY itself, because it is in a populist state of together in a kind of "identitarian international" from Geert Wilders to shock and afraid to move. Populism could Marine Le Pen, the Polish Law and Justice (PiS) party to the BE ON THE RISE, BECAUSE only be on the rise, because the citizens Hungarian Fidesz party, the True Finns or the Austrian FPÖ. These THE CITIZENS WERE THE were the forgotten entity in the whole EU parties are all well-organised, have a large electorate behind them FORGOTTEN ENTITY IN THE institutional set-up, which displays a and clearly also enough financial sponsors. These national parties WHOLE EU’S INSTITUTIONAL parliament with hardly any legislative power, often pursue a social policy for their electorate, e.g. in Poland, and SET-UP no accountability and without control of the therefore have become a threat to left-wing parties in particular. budget or the executive power of the EU. Where the classical social democratic parties, across Europe The so-called "democratic deficit" of the EU

20 21 has become unbearable in recent crisis years and legitimised One of the recurrent lines is that the EU offers "Four Freedoms" for criticism was left to the so-called populists, as the EU system people, goods, capital and services. However, until now, the same showed increasing inertia to change. The sovereignty question European rights and regulations within the EU legal community are – who decides in the EU? – became wide open and until it is clearly de facto only applied to goods (in the legal frame of the single answered ("nation state" vs. Europe), the EU will probably not have market), to capital (within the euro-governance) and enough political power to deal with the policies it should better OIL CANS OR LIGHT to services (the factor of work across the EU). All succeed in. One of the most immanent elements of the EU’s BULBS ARE "EQUAL" IN these three – goods, capital and services – benefit democratic deficit is that citizens – however the real sovereign of EUROPEAN LEGISLATION from legal equality throughout Europe. The only the system – are not equal in front of the law. ACROSS THE EU, ones who are still fragmented into national "law containers" are the European citizens themselves, CITIZENS ARE NOT who are the sovereign of the political system. In The general political principle of equality other words: oil cans or light bulbs are "equal" in European legislation across the EU, citizens are not; especially not Any democracy has as an essential but not atequate condition regarding things which are dear to them with respect to their very that all citizens are equal. Classically, "one person, one vote" is status as citizens: voting, taxation and access to social rights. It is the key requirement for a democracy and the composition of a the European citizens who enjoy no legal equality. If the aim of single electoral body. General, secret, direct and equal elections Europe is still to become a fully-fledged democracy – one market, thus constitute, in the words of famous French sociologist Pierre one currency, one democracy – then this must change. Applying the Rosanvallon, "Le Sacré du Citoyen" – the "sacred" of the citizen. general principal of equality for all Europeans – starting with the Eurozone – would embed the European single market and currency In current European discussions it is often neglected that the into a common European democracy. Precisely this would be the notion of "citoyen" ("citizen") means more than sharing values or quantum leap for Europe from a purely internal market and currency "feeling European". The notion of citizen always must have a legal project towards a European political unity, which was the intention of underpinning and precisely this is the problem of the EU, as the the founding fathers. notion of "European citizen", though granted in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, has remained normatively "empty". The Maastricht Citizens who strive for a political body based on equal rights Treaty promised de facto a "Union of States" and "Union of Citizens". (ius aequum) establish a republic. If European citizens were to agree However, only the former materialised. To make this concrete: In on the principle of political equality, they would de facto found a essence, British citizens, now affected by Brexit, would European Republic. That would be a paramount paradigm shift from – in theory – remain European citizens, despite the fact of the United "United States of Europe", the European project of the 21st century, Kingdom leaving the EU. Nothing demonstrated more crudely that based on integration of nation states, towards a European Republic, "European citizenship" right now is only an empty shell. Thousands based on European democracy, with sovereignty in the hands of of British citizens living in continental Europe will be affected through European citizens, forming one electoral body and voting together Brexit, to the same extent as many European citizens living and in a European Parliament with legislative power under conditions of working in the UK. Focussing on the notion of "European citizenship" division of power. Decision-making would be shifted to a European when thinking about ways and steps to change and improve Parliament and not take place in a rather opaque European Council. European democracy is therefore important.

22 23 A general, direct and equal voting system ("one person, one vote") The charm would be that the simultaneously large and federally for all European citizens would thus be the next important step organised euro states (i.e. above all Germany, but also Spain or in establishing a political unity on the continent. The objection that Italy) would be deconstructed into their autochthonous regions such a move causes citizens of the small states – e.g. Luxemburg or and thus, above all, Germany would no longer be able to assume Malta – to be outweighed by the big states, especially Germany, does a hegemonic position of power in the European governance system: not apply, as it is precisely the parliamentarisation of the vote that some 50 - 60 equally-sized regions in Europe represent a different would de-homogenise the German vote: not all Germans vote the "level-playing field" than the current 19 euro or 28 (soon 27) EU same. Through full parliamentarisation, the system would be shifted states, in which the three (too) large EU member states tend to from "nationally aggregated" voting towards a "politics-tops-nation" dominate and block the smaller member states. Savoy, Alemanien, system, in which the political orientation matters more than the Eupen-Malmedy, Bohemia, Alsace, Basque Country, Scotland, Tyrol ethnic or national background. It does not matter what nationality one or Bavaria, they would all have their cultural place and identity in a has, when it comes to the question of whether one would like to see European Republic. European unemployment insurance. In this precise decision, German citizens would probably have given a diversified vote, whereas the This idea caters to two political trends: firstly, that most European German representative in the European Council as "aggregated vote" citizens want to have a strong and united Europe in the international opted against it. arena; and secondly, that most Europeans want to preserve their regional identity.

Utopia is what we make In this context, it should be noted in conclusion that the European federalists of the first hour – e.g. in the Manifesto of Ventotene of 1944 For many, it is not possible today to imagine this for Europe. Yet for – who in the midst of fascism in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s the territories of the German Confederation around 1870, a unified conceptually anticipated a united Europe – had German social insurance system was also unimaginable. And then THE GENERAL in mind the idea of a Europe as a federation of came Bismarck and it worked. No one can say what is conceivable POLITICAL PRINCIPLE roughly equal, regional units in which the big and enforceable on the European level in the long term. The euro OF EQUALITY nation states do not dominate the smaller ones. seemed to be unimaginable also in the beginning. They were convinced – already by then – that IS THE BASIS OF post-war Europe must be a federation of small The European Republic would then be a kind of network of EVERY DEMOCRACY. entities. The Austrian national economist autonomous regions and cities over which there is a "republican Leopold Kohr argued convincingly in 1972 that umbrella" guaranteeing political equality for all citizens. The only anchoring Europe in the regional could be the solution, among European regions and metropolises as constitutive bearers of a other reasons, because this would best correspond to Montesquieu’s European Republic would be bound together by a transnational concept (revived by Hannah Arendt) of a "federation of small units". democracy, whose three main pillars would be, firstly, a pro rata Europe would win both ways: ability to act in the international arena parliament, secondly, a congress with two senators each per externally; citizen proximity and regional identity internally. region/metropolis, and thirdly, the identity-forming direct election of a European president – as it is proposed today in numerous party programmes.

24 25 Today’s European Union is not stable. Without a decisive step forward it will not be sustainable in its current form. Europe needs a clear goal, a clear direction and perspective, an emancipatory agenda, a concrete idea of itself. The single European market and the single "EUROPE DOES NOT European currency must be supplemented by a European MEAN TO INTEGRATE STATES, democracy, because a currency is BUT TO UNITE PEOPLE" already a social contract that must – JEAN MONNET be embedded into a democracy, in which ultimately the following applies: the citizens are the sovereigns of the political system, they are all equal before the law, the parliament decides and there is a separation of powers. The general political principle of equality is the basis of every democracy. Its implementation into the political system of the EU would be the "Great Reformation" of Europe! In order to accomplish this radical new beginning for Europe we only have to remember that Jean Monnet always said: "L’Europe, nous ne coalisons pas des états, mais nous unissons des hommes" ("Europe does not mean to integrate states, but to unite people").

26 ARTISTS ARTISTS ARTISTS

Nikolaus Ruchnewitz, Piano / DJ Geo Popoff, Beatbox

Nikolaus Ruchnewitz is no classical pianist, but he is a classical dj. He As a beatboxer, Geo Popoff is active in various constellations and owns a large and versatile record collection and uses vinyl. At the piano, always by generating sound with his mouth alone. When beatboxing he develops his own interpretations of current and past pop songs. The unfolds as a physical passion, it results in sound worlds that Geo Popoff piano moves through the room – and it might come to you! transforms into songs together with a loop station. The multiple national beatbox champion is also the founder of the beatbox association Mundakrobaten and is active on the international beatbox scene. With a danceable sound, ranging from hip-hop and afro-beat to techno and electro, he exhilarates every audience.

28 29 ARTISTS

VIOLETTA PARISINI & BAND

Violetta Parisini, piano & voice Alex Pohn,drums Hanibal Scheutz, bass Peter Rom, guitar Emily Stewart, violin & voice

Violetta Parisini is a singer-songwriter from Vienna. She delights her audience with clever texts, catchy melodies and her unique voice. In her songs, with her very own courageous vulnerability, she tells stories about all too human, sometimes seemingly contradictory feelings and thoughts. On stage, she is joined by old and new companions, who provide her with accomplished support not only live but also in the work on her third album.

30 COURAGE BEATS PREJUDICE. 80 FINALISTS » 8 WINNERS. CATEGORY CIVILISATION CIVILISATION PROJECT 1 BELGIUM A SCHOOL WITH A MUSICAL INFLUENCE

Joëlle Maison Member of Parliament and local Councillor

Encouraging music education: a school providing systematic music teaching from kindergarten through to sixth grade. This flagship project, which includes systematic music teaching from kindergarten to the sixth year of primary school, is the first of its kind in Belgium. Launched in September 2015, this project has generated enthusiasm among the teaching staff. The children of the schools, who had different pedagogical experiences with music, confirm that having music classes is a real added value for learning and teaching in general.

Improvement can be seen in various fields, such as personal development, teamwork, stimulation of concentration, increased ability to listen, stimulating different forms of intelligence, growth of creativity, respecting rules, harmonious community development, strengthening discipline, development of moral values. In particular, this project allows all pupils, starting from kindergarten, to receive adapted musical training from music teachers, four times a week. The music classes are included in the pupils' timetable, and can be complementary to other classes or interdisciplinary. Four music teachers (teachers who studied music, classic instruments and opera singing) have been hired for this purpose with municipal funds. Email: [email protected]

36 37 CIVILISATION PROJECT 2 GERMANY BONN PARTICIPATES! BONN MACHT MIT!

Ashok-Alexander Sridharan Mayor of Bonn

Online participation: an online platform designed to encourage civic participation. The city of Bonn takes civic participation to the next level - citizens' involvement in decision-making processes is encouraged and initiated by politicians, administrators and citizens alike. The city provides an online platform which helps citizens to actively take part in the organisation of their city and influence municipal decisions. A dedicated Advisory Panel on Citizen Participation prepares, implements and reviews participation processes including: citizens' dialogue on the city budget 2019/2020; the Bonn bike dialogue which allows citizens to discuss how cycling can be improved; and a platform which allows citizens to report concerns, problems and deficiencies in their immediate environment.

This project facilitates direct citizen participation and provides an inclusive approach to resolving urban issues by providing transparent and clear information to all citizens about planning and projects in the city. Inclusiveness is the focus of the strategy, especially with regards to young Email: people and marginalised groups. [email protected]

Website: https://www.bonn-macht-mit.de/informationen

38 39 CIVILISATION PROJECT 3 BULGARIA DIGITAL CULTURE: HERITAGE FOR THE FUTURE

Ivan Totev Mayor of Plovdiv Municipality

Preserving culture: digitising the tangible and intangible history of Plovdiv. The objective of the project was to carry out the first programme for digitisa- tion of the movable and immovable cultural heritage of Plovdiv, a city famous for being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. In order to achieve that, the Municipality of Plovdiv decided to work in partnership with the six most important local cultural institutions wherethe majority of the cultural heritage is stored.

During the project, a state-of-the-art digital centre has been established, consisting of two permanent facilities for digitisation as well as of four additional mobile digital stations situated in the partnering cultural institu- tions. As part of the project, an ethnographic expedition has been carried out by representatives of the Roma community to digitise local Roma history and heritage. The project has resulted in improved access to museum collections and archive resources. It successfully achieved its target of producing at least 50,000 digital objects, representing the tangible and intangible cultural Email: heritage of the city of Plovdiv. Moreover, a project website was created [email protected] featuring most of the cultural artefacts, digitised as part of the project. Website: http://digital.plovdiv.bg/BG/Pages/default.aspx

40 41 CIVILISATION PROJECT 4 AUSTRIA

EBNER-INKLUSIV-ESCHENBACH

Jürgen Czernohorszky City Councillor for Education, Integration, Youth and Personnel of Vienna

Integrating education: creating "learning neighbourhoods" in Vienna to bring together different types of educational institutions and positively influence the community. Children in Vienna should have equal opportunities. We need educational institutions that inspire pupils and meet their needs and interests, institutions that focus on the learners' inclinations and leave nobody behind. The heart of education is not the institution - not a kindergarten, school or after-school club - at the heart there are the children learning, and it is around the learning child that institutions should be organised.

To achieve this, a radical opening and networking of all available educational offers within a community network is required. In the immediate neighbourhood of every family in Vienna, there are kindergartens, schools and extracurricular institutions such as book clubs, youth centres or com- munity colleges. These institutes should form a "learning neighbourhood", to provide a neighbourhood-oriented educational landscape, which is intended to increase the impact of educational work and positively Email: influence the local community. "Ebner-Inklusiv-Eschenbach" brings together [email protected] different types of schools, public and private institutions, as well as Website: elementary and special education providers, to form an inclusive and https://www.wien.gv.at/bildung-forschung/bildungsgraetzl-waehring.html linked learning neighbourhood.

42 43 CIVILISATION PROJECT 5 BELGIUM EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS

Jean-Claude Juncker President of the European Commission

European community service: an EU initiative that allows young people to volunteer in different community service projects around Europe. The European Solidarity Corps is an EU initiative which creates opportunities for young people to volunteer or work on projects that benefit communities across Europe. It was announced by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, in September 2016, and launched in December 2016. As a next step, a new dedicated legal base for the European Solidarity Corps will enter into force in autumn 2018, with an overall budget of EUR 375.6 million for the period 2018-2020.

After completing a simple registration process, participants may be selected to join a wide range of projects run by organisations which have been checked and authorised to run European Solidarity Corps activities. Currently, the European Solidarity Corps offers opportunities for volunteering, taking part in a traineeship or a job for individual participants. In addition to supporting young people in carrying out these activities, the Corps also Email: provides participants with the opportunity to set up their own solidarity [email protected] projects or to volunteer in groups. A series of support measures (e.g. training, Website: insurance, etc.) will be available for all types of placements and projects. https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en Special support is provided to participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

44 45 CIVILISATION PROJECT 6 POLAND

INTEGRATED SENIOR POLICY PROJECT

Arkadiusz Wiśniewski Mayor of Opola

Assisting senior citizens: addressing the needs of senior citizens in Opole, Poland by providing a variety of new care services. Around one in four inhabitants of Opole is a senior citizen. Using the potential of this group of inhabitants and implementing projects aimed at the specific problems and needs of this group are an important element of the city's development policy. The city of Opole is implementing a number of integrated measures in this area, as part of its senior citizens project.

Within the framework of the project, the city helps older or disabled residents who are in a difficult situation, concerning life and economics. Several dozen people in need receive support in the form of hot meals delivered to their home, as well as assistance in the form of care services. The project also introduces: an "Opole Senior" card for people aged 65 and over, providing discounts at cooperating municipal and private partners; a dedicated information and education centre for seniors, run with the cooperation and participation of senior citizens; activities aimed at Email: overcoming stereotypical perceptions of seniors and strengthening the [email protected] positive image of seniors; as well as the construction of a residential complex Website: for seniors. The Senior Citizens' Home will provide over one hundred flats in http://www.seniorwopolu.pl three buildings.

46 47 CIVILISATION PROJECT 7 AUSTRIA

OPEN COMMONS LINZ

Klaus Luger Mayor of Linz

The Open Digital Commons in Linz provides access to digital media for all, creating an inclusive and inspiring creative city environment. Open Commons Linz is a digital commons where content is freely, openly and easily accessible to the community. Content includes music, pictures, photos, videos, data, literature, radio plays or software. Such digital goods can be shared indefinitely and can even be improved by allowing users to find and fix bugs or add content. That is also why they are so interesting as commons for communities, cities and whole societies. At the annual Open Commons Congress, innovative and social topics are presented in a low-threshold way.

The topics range from the importance of digital archives for democracy; to hate and discrimination in the network; to youth in the network; and to digital sharing in an individualised society. The City of Linz launched the Open Commons Linz initiative to promote digital commons, not only for ideological reasons - to allow a just, democratic access to resources for Email: all - but also in the hope of creating an environment in which creative and [email protected] inventive people feel comfortable and inspire each other. In addition, the city Website: believes that cooperation rather than competition is the better long-term http://opencommons.linz.at/ economic option.

48 49 CIVILISATION PROJECT 8 BELGIUM POLYTECHNIC AT PRIMARY SCHOOL

Joëlle Maison Member of Parliament and local Councillor

Engaging students: allowing primary school pupils to receive vocational training and participate in projects that in- volve non-traditional classroom skills and topics. The major challenge in teaching is to combine theoretical learning with hands-on experience, as well as stimulating all forms of intelligence in pupils. The EFP (enseignement et formation professionnels) is a centre providing vocational training for teenagers from the age of 15, or adults from the age of 18. The instructors are experts in their field and provide training across a broad range of jobs from carpentry to electronics, informatics to construction. Through this project, elementary school pupils (10 to 11 years old) are able to visit EFP as part of well-defined projects, ranging from the construction of a library, to a project which aims to sell goods in order to raise funds for a school trip, to the installation of a vegetable garden.

This initiative provides enrichment beyond pedagogy, by encouraging exchanges between representatives from various backgrounds. Pupils who are considered to be less "talented" in theoretical subjects may show themselves to be competent in technical handling. Furthermore, the manual aspects of Email: this initiative reinforce and help to illustrate what is learnt in theoretical [email protected] subjects.

50 51 CIVILISATION PROJECT 9 LITHUANIA REVIVING THE COMMUNITY OF ŽIURAI

Jurate Lebednykiene Vilma Miškiniene Project Leader Deputy Head of the Administration of Varena District Municipality

Saving a dying village: rebuilding a community by bringing together current and former members of the village who live around Lithuania and the world. Emigration is one of Lithuania's most persistent problems, especially for rural communities – young people leave their villages, social ties between generations are disintegrating, traditions that used to underpin community life are disappearing, old people are often left behind and village communities are slowly dying. In the southern Lithuanian village of Žiurai, where the first ethnographic choir started back in 1970, the younger generation (who call themselves the grandchild generation) decided to join forces in order to take care of their old folk and bring their village back to life.

The Grandchild Initiative was launched in 2017 and had a great impact on village life. The formal purpose of their meetings is to learn the old songs sung by their elders and to have various celebrations, while the informal mission of their gatherings is to visit the old folk in the village, bring together former residents, revive the community and make their village a centre of attraction in the region. The 2018 Song Festival became a formal incentive to present the previously dwindling Žiurai folklore ensemble to Lithuania and the Email: global community. Now the choir consists of 9 members from the older [email protected] generation and 45 representatives of various generations.

52 53 CIVILISATION PROJECT 10 POLAND

WYMIENNIKOWNIA – YOUTH CENTRE FOR DESIGN AND SOCIAL INNOVATION

Wojciech Szczurek Mayor of Gdynia

Empowering local youth: a centre designed for young people to share ideas, hobbies and work on projects together. The primary goal of the Wymiennikownia (WM) is to support the bottom-up initiatives of the local youth, helping young people to implement their ideas, share hobbies and fulfill their passions. It provides the space and conditions for spending free time in interesting ways. Responsibilities are delegated to young people, breaking usual conventions, as well as expanding the district or city offers through various events.

Having taken over the operative management, young people adjusted the centre's opening hours to their habits of spending free time. The schedule of workshops and events in WM is prepared based on the projects submitted by young and active citizens of Gdynia, and it changes in accordance with their moods and plans. Independent decision-making on what events to organise or take part in is the essence of the venue. Skills and knowledge are exchanged through the operation of the centre: I can do something and show you how to do it too, and I can also learn something through teaching Email: you. In addition, young people themselves, in cooperation with professionals, [email protected] designed the interiors of the centre based on their own ideas and the Website: activities they plan to conduct. https://wymiennikownia.org/

54 55 CATEGORY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PROJECT 11 GERMANY CITY WEST: ROOM FOR NEW CITY IDEAS

Eva Lohse Mayor of Ludwigshafen

Re-imagining a space: citizens of Ludwigshafen can come together to discuss ideas for using the space of a former highway. The city of Ludwigshafen am Rhein is facing the challenge of having to repla- ce the elevated road Hochstrasse Nord - a bridged flyover built in the 1970s. More than 40,000 vehicles pass over it every day. It is an arterial road of transregional importance for many commuters, as well as for the economy. Heavy goods traffic, in particular, has caused irreparable damage to the flyover, so it has to be dismantled and replaced by a new road.

However, the city of Ludwigshafen does not want to simply rebuild the Hochstraße, but looks for new planning procedures, including groundbreaking citizen participation, under the slogan "City West: Space for New Ideas". Ludwigshafen has combined an infrastructural transformation project with a complex and inclusive participation strategy and has tested, promoted, and successfully implemented digital participation of urban society in the development of the environment, in a financially, ecologically, and politically sustainable solution. In this respect, the City West planning and participation procedure has become a model for practice-oriented development of local eGovernance strategies.

58 59 COMMUNITY PROJECT 12 LITHUANIA COMMUNITY MOBILISATION THROUGH CHILDREN

Aušra Gužauskiene Eimuntas Raugevičius Project Leader Garliava district elder, Project Guardian

Mobilising a neighbourhood: an initiative to better engage rural communities by having schools serve as the centre of the community. This initiative aims to engage and mobilise adults, through their children, to actively participate in forming neighbourhood and community programmes. The main idea is to empower rural schools to organise activities as a multi- functional centre, bringing together all generations for:

a) Cleaning and "greening" of the school's surroundings; b) Organising tailored events for children and their parents, such as the celebration of the start of the school year and Christmas festivities, as well as a celebration to honour senior citizens, thematic quizzes, a family sports competition and an end-of-year school concert; c) Organising civic actions that are very much appreciated by the rural community, such as giving your neighbour a national flag or a Christmas card, bringing schoolchildren, their parents, as well as teachers together to prepare and distribute items; d) Organising tailored practical training for parents on positive parenting and spending more quality time with their children; e) Encouraging parents to become proactive members of the school community, through activities such as Email: building a greenhouse close to the school where their children grow [email protected] vegetables which are later prepared for school meals.

60 61 COMMUNITY PROJECT 13 GERMANY COOKING AND CHATTING IN BIELEFELD

Wiebke Esdar Member of Parliament

Sharing a meal: a quarterly event where citizens can come together to cook and eat a shared meal. Chatting, exploring, getting to know each other: cooking together is a great way to connect people. In Bielefeld's Ostmannturmviertel, citizens, local politicians and civil servants come together quarterly to prepare meals and eat together. Sixteen participants work at four cooking stations, where four participants are representatives from different political parties.

The outstanding democratic aspect of this approach is the open end. People are invited to talk with the aim of creating a cluster from which the local administrations can form follow-up projects. Dishes of Turkish, Indian, Polish and German origin are cooked and a casual way of conversation quickly emerges. This fosters addressing neighbourhood issues, such as the socially problematic situation surrounding drug use at the railway station, or the need for new bicycle parking, and therefore provides incentives for cooperation on new projects. Even the structure of the event is open for improvement, such as to prolong conversational windows while cooking and to instigate a visualisation of the outcome.

Email: [email protected]

62 63 COMMUNITY PROJECT 14 IRELAND

DUNMANWAY COMMUNITY GARDEN

Declan Hurley Patrick Gerard Murphy Councillor, Cork County Councillor, Mayor of County Cork Council and former Mayor of County Cork

Growing together: a community garden in Ireland that aims to be inclusive for all people. The Dunmanway Community Garden initiative leased a one-acre site from Cork County Council, with an aim to design, build, maintain and use a shared community garden space. The project trained people in basic horticultural skills, construction skills and co-operative working. It was developed for the people of Dunmanway, across all age groups, from toddler to the elderly, and regardless of physical ability, mental well-being or nationality.

The Community Garden hosts courses for adults on literacy and numeracy through gardening, therapeutic gardening, mental health and well-being, painting, ceramics, photography and woodcraft. Courses for younger members include after-school programmes and "Root Camp" for teenagers, teaching them the skills of growing, cooking and eating together. Well over 1,000 people have visited the garden for events, courses, groups, camps, Email: education and celebrations. Further funding from Cork County Council [email protected] engaged workers from an unemployment programme who take visitors on Website: a tour of the garden or help new volunteers to get involved. Our Community http://www.westcorkpeople.ie/features/ Garden is a success story due to the phenomenal input of the volunteers a-green-space-owned-by-no-one-but-engaged-by-all/ who established and maintain it to meet the needs of the community.

64 65 COMMUNITY PROJECT 15

"EVERY ONE EVERY DAY" UNITED KINGDOM BARKING AND DAGENHAM

Saima Ashraf Tessy Britton Mike Haywood Darren Rodwell Deputy Councillor Chief Executive, Councillor Councillor, Leader Participatory City of Barking and Dagenham Council Community engagement in London: engaging locals in one of London's poorest boroughs through community projects and activities. It was launched in 2017 and is scheduled to continue for a minimum of five years with a budget of £7.2m.

The project encourages and supports residents to get involved in and create practical, participatory activities in their neighbourhoods, build social relationships and improve local outcomes. Projects include: sharing skills, spaces and resources; families working and playing more together; batch cooking and community meals; food growing and tree planting; trading, making and repairing. Citizens can suggest community projects and joint social activities, which the project team supports by: finding useful spaces for the projects; supplying materials and equipment for practical activities - no form-filling for grants; arranging insurance and health and safety measures; holding festivals, workshops and business programmes. The project has Email: been hugely successful since its launch, with over 1200 residents already [email protected] involved across 70 new neighbourhood projects and potential community businesses. The ambition is for 250 projects, 100 businesses and 25,000 Website: residents to be involved within five years. https://www.weareeveryone.org

66 67 COMMUNITY PROJECT 16 BULGARIA FUTURE OF CITIZENSHIP: LOCAL FORUM TO PROMOTE ACTIVE SOCIETY

Yordan Yordanov Mayor of Dobrich Municipality

Mobilising civil society: a civil forum in the town of Dobrich to create and develop projects to benefit the town. For the past two years, the town of Dobrich has been hosting a civil forum supported by the local government, which mobilises active people in the local community to collect ideas for the development of the city and the region and to seek opportunities for their realisation.

The forum brings together professionals related to Dobrich, who live in Bulgaria or abroad, with their experience and expertise, to give their input and support for the development of Dobrich Municipality. The main topics of the forum are information technologies and education as strategic sectors for the future of Dobrich and the community. The result was the generation of ideas from which several initiatives have already been implemented, including a farm bazaar for organic food held every Thursday and a 48-hour film marathon on the theme "Beautiful Dobrich" that is going to be held this autumn. The aim of all initiatives is to include the active civil society in the life and development of the town.

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

68 69 COMMUNITY PROJECT 17 LITHUANIA GLOBAL LITHUANIA-STATE AND DIASPORA COOPERATION

Linas Linkevicius Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

Sharing knowledge: a programme that connects the Lithuanian diaspora around the world, to share their ideas and skills with their home country. With today's population of 2.8 million, Lithuania has a long emigration history and a strong diaspora. About 1.3 million people of Lithuanian origin live abroad. The Lithuanian government realises the diaspora's capital and aims to promote the idea that all Lithuanians can maintain close ties with Lithuania and contribute to the country's development. In pursuit of this goal, the government adopted the Global Lithuania Programme.

This project encourages the development of organised community activities abroad, involves the diaspora in a consistent dialogue and provides funding for selected initiatives that promote the Lithuanian language, identity, culture, business, tourism and others. Complex network-building with diaspora professionals remains a high priority. The key to success lies in transforming "brain drain" into "brain circulation". Every motivated Lithuanian willing to stay connected to their homeland can contribute their knowledge, ideas and experience through available mechanisms and instruments that promote collaboration and closer contacts in such areas as trade and Email: investment, scientific and technological innovation, Lithuanian language [email protected] education, culture, tourism and others.

70 71 COMMUNITY PROJECT 18 POLAND

INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF SOLIDARY SOCIAL ECONOMY IN CZESTOCHOWA

Adrian Staroniek Head of the Częstochowa City Hall

Better social services: a system that allows residents to assist in the development of better services for citizens. The Integrated System of Solidary Social Economy aims to increase the participation of residents in the development of social services for people at risk of social exclusion. Together with cooperating social assistance institutions, employment services and social economy organisations, each resident's situation is brought into focus, on a case-by-case basis.

The project has received awards at the provincial level, for both innovation and for diversifying funding strategies in order to implement the project's objectives. As part of the plan, there have been training sessions on raising the standard of work and increasing professionalism in the field of economic self-empowerment. Further cooperation with social economy entities has been developed and the model of solving social problems collaboratively has been promoted in the wider community. This project provides a holistic view of people at risk of exclusion, persons with disabilities, the homeless, and those inheriting unemployment who are reluctant to take up professional activity. It is a response to the needs diagnosed by all project stakeholders, as well as a response to the needs of those taking part in the programme. Email: The project therefore plays a key role in the city's social politics. [email protected]

72 73 COMMUNITY PROJECT 19

RE-USE NETWORK UNITED KINGDOM

Ellen Ball Councillor, Area Chair of East Sunderland Area Committee, Sunderland City Council

Upcycling furniture: a programme that aims to reduce the amount of furniture in landfills by giving it to people in need. This project relieves pressure on public services, on the one hand by reducing the amount of bulky re-usable furniture that ends up in landfill or energy plants and on the other hand by connecting those suffering from furniture poverty by means of quality upcycled furniture, thereby supporting families and vulnerable adults without the need for council intervention. Upcycling second-hand furniture increases capacity, improves efficiency and enables multiple partners to scale their operations in a cost-effective manner, testing new ways of working in collaboration to deliver public services.

This project thereby advances the efficiency of public services, industry, commerce and social enterprises relieves, poverty and supports environmental protection, by encouraging and supporting innovation for the public benefit. Over a nine-month period, the project has diverted 78 tonnes of bulky furniture, 357 people have donated furniture, and 190 households Email: in a small geographical area have benefited. A recently initiated pilot project [email protected] is expected to increase these figures. Website: https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/sharelab/ community-reuse-network-sunderland-city-council/

74 75 COMMUNITY PROJECT 20 BULGARIA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: THE VOICE OF YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENTED AND EXECUTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aleksandar Ivanov Municipal Councillor

Giving a voice to young people: organised weekly meetings in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria to allow young people to discuss and bring ideas to the local municipality. Through weekly open "youth meetings", Aleksandar Ivanov has managed to create an environment where young people of the city can gather ideas for the development of the local community and the youth sector in the region. The ideas, concepts and policies are transferred to the Municipal Council of Pazardzhik, where they form part of the municipality's agenda.

The primary objective was to bring together the youth and the administration. The process created has enabled active young people in the region to become directly involved in local government processes and the youth policies implemented by the authorities. Successful activities increased interest in this initiative, which resulted in the tripling of the young people involved in the meetings and activities. Important results have been achieved, such as direct youth empowerment and engagement of young people in their local community; successful structural dialogue between Email: the administration and young people; enabling people-to-people politics; [email protected] and, last but not least, improving the wide range of skills needed by young [email protected] people in a competitive labour market.

76 77 CATEGORY DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY PROJECT 21 IRELAND

300K - HAVE YOUR SAY - PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

Dermot Looney Guss O'Connell Mark Ward Councillor and former Councillor and former Councillor and Mayor Mayor of Mayor of South Dublin South Dublin of South Dublin

Giving citizens a say: citizens voting to allocate a portion of council's budget for projects designed and submitted by citizens. In 2017, South Dublin County Council's Participatory Budget initiative, the first in Ireland, allowed citizens to vote for projects designed and submitted by citizens. An additional €300,000 was provided specifically for this purpose. Citizens took part in facilitated workshops to generate ideas, identify community needs and develop supportive networks. The initiative was rolled out under the brand name "300K - Have Your Say" and attracted some 160 project submissions. 17 were shortlisted for public voting, of which 8 (ranging from €5K to €120K) were successful. There were 2,598 valid votes cast, which exceed expectations.

Most encouraging was that the projects chosen were diverse, had a good geographical spread, were locally relevant and received a positive public reaction. All successful projects have been either started or completed, Email: which further strengthens public confidence. The real objective of increased [email protected] citizen participation in local government was achieved. The Participatory Website: Budgeting process was independently evaluated by the Institute of Public https://haveyoursay.southdublin.ie/ Administration which positively endorsed the initiative and it has since been repeated in 2018.

80 81 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 22

BUILDING TRUST AND SOCIAL INCLUSION SWITZERLAND WITH DIGITAL IDENTITIES

Doris Fiala Member of the Swiss National Council and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Digitising identification: a system developed in Switzerland to create digital identities for citizens. Our project is a mobile-phone-based, blockchain-secured, and government-authenticated electronic identity (eID) that enables trusted interactions between citizens, government authorities and the private sector. Furthermore, open APIs (application programming interfaces) enable third parties to build customised applications on top of the eID identification layer (e.g. e-voting, health, tax, visa, etc.).

The citizen is at the centre of our solution, empowered to control which data is being shared for what purpose. The benefits of this project are substantially reduced bureaucracy and safeguarding of personal data. Furthermore, it is our vision that governmental services are accessible at any time and from any location, driving social and financial inclusion of all citizens, independent of age, health or other life circumstances. Our application, the eID+, was officially launched by Procivis, after a successful pilot with the Swiss Canton of Schaffhausen. In addition, Procivis and the Email: Rohingya Project launched a cooperation aiming at providing the Rohingya [email protected] diaspora in Malaysia with an eID, enabling them to use it for opening Website: bank accounts. https://procivis.ch/eid/what-is-eid/

82 83 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 23 BULGARIA CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT: PROBLEM SOLVING IN THE COMMUNITY

Georgi Georgiev Mayor of Tundzha Municipality

Empowering citizens: allowing citizens to engage in constructive dialogue with the Tundzha municipality. This project enables the community to present civic projects to the Municipality to be implemented in partnership with the initiators. It is a platform that unites the efforts of local authorities and local communities, to solve major societal challenges and problems through partnerships and constructive dialogue. It encourages and supports the participation of people, local structures, organisations and business representatives in initiatives that provide for tangible and lasting change in the living environment.

The initiative started in 2015, aiming to give a platform to every active citizen with an idea and motivation. Following the implementation of the platform, 41 agreements for the support of various initiatives in 30 villages of Tundzha Municipality were signed in 2015. Currently, for 2018, a total of 33 agreements have been concluded and a further six are to be finalised. This is a useful practice that promotes people's direct involvement by generating public resources to implement local initiatives. It stimulates citizens to think out of the box for the benefit of their future and environment. Email: Through the project, the ideas of local communities are being implemented, [email protected] which greatly promotes civic activity.

84 85 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 24 BELGIUM CITIZENS' CABINET

Sven Gatz Rachid Madrane Minister for Culture, Media, Minister for Assistance for Youth, Youth and Brussels Affairs Sports, and Brussels Affairs of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation

Engaging citizens: a system in Brussels to allow residents to discuss their ideas and perceptions of the city. Citizens increasingly voice their opinion, whether in protest or online. Elections are viewed as the cornerstone of our democracy, but they merely represent a moment in time. To truly represent the interests of citizens, politicians need to know what is happening on the streets. The only way to do that is by starting a direct dialogue with citizens, listening to their concerns, ideas, and integrating them into policy.

With this "Citizens' Cabinet" on the theme of Brussels, Ministers Rachid Madrane and Sven Gatz, in charge of the promotion of Brussels to the French and Flemish-speaking communities, wanted to find out how the inhabitants of Brussels, the Walloons and the Flemings perceive their capital and how they believe they could deepen mutual understanding and respect between regions. The "Citizen Cabinet" allowed citizens to discuss and debate together, as well as to agree on recommendations for both ministers. What are the aspects of Brussels that attract them? Which ones do they like Email: the least? How do they find information about Brussels? And how can we [email protected] strengthen relations between Walloons, Flemings and Brussels? Website: http://cabinetcitoyen.be/

86 87 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 25

ENGAGEMENT FOR GLARUS! SWITZERLAND

Simón Anliker Melanie Eberhard Marcel Federer Sonja Tanner Team Leader Project Manager Head of Youth Work Staff Youth Work engage.ch engage.ch Glarus Glarus

Engaging young people: encouraging civic and political engagement of children and adolescents through an online platform. The Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations states that "parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child". Despite the convention being almost 30 years old, the possibilities for children and adolescents to participate, especially on the community level, are still slim. The canton of Glarus in Switzerland is addressing this issue with "Engagement for Glarus". Hans-Ueli Rhyner Politicians of the canton provide a wide range of participation possibilities Councillor for children and adolescents living there: they can post their ideas online, discuss them directly with politicians, develop the ideas into projects, and participate during implementation. Under the motto "What's missing in Email: Glarus? Do something!", all young people between 12 and 25 were invited [email protected] to file a request. A total of 180 requests were submitted with the goal to [email protected] develop Glarus according to their ideas. This resulted in three project [email protected] ideas, which are now being implemented by the young people. The project Website: encourages young people to participate in politics and thereby to get to https://www.engage.ch/de/channel-view know and appreciate the concept of democracy.

88 89 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 26 FRANCE

INCLUDING THE CITIZEN AT THE HEART OF PARLIAMENTARY WORK

Eric Buge Paula Forteza François de Rugy Cécile Untermaier former Deputy Chief Member of the Minister of Ecological Member of the of the Cabinet of the Parliament and Solidary Transition, Parliament President of the former President of the Parliament Parliament Digit Member of the Parliament al debates: a system in France designed to encourage citizen participation through online debates. The National Assembly is engaged in a systematic approach to collecting citizens' expertise and, at the beginning of 2018, launched an online consultation platform. In an institution based on the notion of representation and the upstream consultation of experts, the creation of participatory democracy spaces represents a real paradigm shift.

This open source platform enables the organisation of online debates and the gathering of civic expertise, across all the missions of the National Assembly, such as development of the law, evaluation of public policies, reform of the National Assembly. Initially experimental, the process developed rapidly with the participation of all the organs of the National Assembly, gradually establishing itself as a new way of working. Since it was launched, 10 consultations have been organised, gathering nearly Email: 150,000 contributions from 13,475 citizens, in less than three months, on [email protected] topics as diverse as "the fight against 'fake news'", "women and science" or "ecological transition". Website: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/index.asp

90 91 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 27 FRANCE

LEGISLATORY LABORATORIES

Laurent Saint-Martin Member of Parliament

A space to be heard: workshops that enable citizens to voice complaints and ask questions about action taken in the national assembly. Legislative laboratories, initiated by Laurent Saint-Martin, are held every Monday. The deputy facilitates two-hour working meetings on a specific theme, in connection with his activity in the National Assembly. As real places of democratic emulation, these working groups enable all citizens, politically engaged or not, to be heard in the National Assembly and to better understand the workings of their political institutions.

Since 2017, the workshops have been a real success: 40 laboratories have been set up, with more than 150 people a month taking part. Each laboratory is organised around four phases: - A phase of pedagogy and preparation, during which thematic files are sent to the participants before each session, allowing them to prepare for the debate - A consultation phase, where everyone has the opportunity to propose solutions - A phase where other matters can be addressed through Email: questions and answers - Finally, a report of the debates is sent to all [email protected] participants. Laurent Saint-Martin is convinced that the first parliamentary Website: exchange does not actually take place between the two chambers, but https://www.laurentsaintmartin.fr/laboratoires-legislatifs between the citizens and their deputies.

92 93 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 28 LITHUANIA MAKE GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT THROUGH CHANGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Lukas Savickas Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania

Creating a more efficient government: a strategy to assist in the implementation of national policies on the local level. The aim of the project is to apply best practices to implement key national reforms and set government priorities. This long-term initiative introduces changes to management processes in the public sector. For many years, Lithuanian governments have faced difficulties in coordinating implementing national reforms.

As a result of this initiative: responsible project owners and managers were appointed to drive the implementation of 44 strategic projects; a Project Management Office was established to ensure uniform project management standards across public sector institutions and to accumulate expertise and project management know-how; the newly established Strategic Projects Portfolio Committee meets monthly and supervises implementation in terms of schedule, budget and scope, and manages associated risks; 6 structural policy reform programmes were added to the strategic projects portfolio. Email: This initiative is beneficial not only for the government itself, but also [email protected] contributes greatly to changing Lithuanian society. The focus on results- Website: based management maximises the economic and social benefits of each http://lrv.lt/lt/aktuali-informacija/ project and increases accountability and transparency, in line with the gover- xvii-vyriausybe/vyriausybes-prioritetu-igyvendinimas nment's international commitments to the Open Government Partnership.

94 95 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 29 GERMANY OPIN.ME

Tabea Rößner Member of Parliament

Digital participation: an online tool developed to connect public administration and other groups, providing a toolbox for participation. OPIN is a result of the research and innovation project "EUth - Tools and Tips for Mobile and Digital Youth Participation in and across Europe", funded by the European Commission. The project involved eleven partners in eight European countries. OPIN is a pan-European youth participation platform. Like a toolbox, it offers a wide variety of participation processes and is available for public administration institutions and youth organisations of all types and sizes.

Among other things, OPIN gives authorities, youth organisations, educational institutions and youth clubs the possibility to start their participation processes on the platform and thus to involve young people actively in decision-making processes. OPIN is an online platform that provides digital and mobile participation tools. It creates a digital home for participation projects and allows transparent communication of all phases of these projects. OPIN offers support and guidance through the entire participation process. Moreover, it is currently available in 9 European Website: languages. You can find more information at opin.me. https://opin.me/en/

96 97 DEMOCRACY PROJECT 30 LITHUANIA PARTICIPATORY BUDGET IN ALYTUS: BRINGING MORE DEMOCRACY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY RESIDENTS

Vilija Ramanauskiene Deputy Executive Director of Alytus Municipality

Citizen involvement: a city that allocated part of the budget to citizens' proposals and ideas. Alytus city municipality has started a process of decision-making, in which ordinary people not only decide how to allocate part of a city budget by voting directly for projects, but can also create and promote those projects themselves.

This initiative is unique to the country, and the starting point for participatory budgeting in Lithuania. Furthermore - all citizens of Alytus, from the age of 16, can participate in the process. Voting for the projects for 2018 and 2019 ended on the 6th of July this year, and our people allocated 50 thousand euros to "small-scale projects", which will be implemented this year. Voting also ended for the "large-scale projects", requiring technical design and with a value of up to 150 thousand euros. Altogether 200,000 euros (0.33 % of the city budget) was allocated by the Alytus citizens to use as they wished. And this is just the beginning, next year the sum will increase to 250,000, Email: and each year the participatory proportion of the city budget will increase. [email protected] The projects offered by the citizens ranged from a new market in one of the Website: districts, to entertainment infrastructure and city boundary signs. http://www.alytus.lt/naujienos-top/-/asset_publisher/WmPJbf8RTFLG/ content/kvieciame-balsuoti-uz-alytiskiu-iniciatyvas-?redirect=

98 99 CATEGORY ECOLOGY ECOLOGY PROJECT 31 POLAND

GDYNIA RAIN GARDEN

Wojciech Szczurek President of the city of Gdynia

Green urban spaces: designed to teach residents about rainwater retention through the creation of "rain gardens" in residential and commercial properties. Over 60% of the Polish population lives in urban areas and this proportion is expected to increase in the future. City dwellers expect increasingly higher standards of living, which include green spaces, but what is often forgotten is the strong relationship between greenery and water. The city's water is pushed into sewers and regulated in concrete channels, rainwater is closed in pipes and led out of the city. Such management of blue infrastructure reduces groundwater levels, pollutes other water bodies and increases flood risk with overloaded sewage systems. Rain gardens help to resolve these problems and also allow people to experience the benefits of communing with water in urbanised space, as well as contributing to a healthier, greener urban environment.

The Gdynia "rain garden" project encourages the inhabitants of Gdynia to make use of small-scale rainwater collection and to educate them about the Email: importance of rainwater in the urban environment. A subsidy programme [email protected] supports residents in setting up a "rain garden" - a green construction that Website: cleans rainwater for use on their property. A set of good practices was http://www.gdynia.pl/ogroddeszczowy created, which can be used by people when designing a "rain garden".

102 103 ECOLOGY PROJECT 32 BELGIUM GOOD FOOD STRATEGY: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM IN THE BRUSSELS CAPITAL REGION

Céline Fremault Minister of the Government of the Brussels Capital Region

Promoting sustainability: a system in Brussels designed to encourage the growing of local foods and the reduction of food waste. The Good Food Strategy – towards a sustainable food system in the Brus- sels Capital Region – was approved by the Brussels Government in 2015, including more than 100 "farm-to-fork" measures. The aims are to: develop new farming projects in city areas with an objective of producing 30% of fruit and vegetables locally by 2035; involve the younger generation in food-rela- ted challenges; reduce food waste by 30% by 2020. These measures were co-developed with all stakeholders in 2015 and the Good Food Advisory Council continues the participatory process with 28 members representing the entire food chain.

Innovative projects are supported, such as vegetable gardens in schools, a regional service to facilitate urban agriculture, supporting young urban farmers, setting up 6ha 'test space', collective gardens, professional projects in urban agriculture using innovative techniques such as aquaponics, Email: projects for the recovery of unsold food, and preventing food waste in [email protected] schools. A Good Food label was developed for restaurants and canteens. Website: 34 restaurants and 29 canteens have received the label which indicates local, https://www.goodfood.brussels/fr organic, vegetarian food and food waste prevention measures.

104 105 ECOLOGY PROJECT 33 POLAND

GREEN BUDGET

Krzysztof Żuk President of the City of Lublin

Citizen participation: a citizen budget in Lublin designed to allocate green spaces chosen by citizens throughout the city. In 2016, the first edition of the Green Budget was announced in Lublin. The idea was that every resident could have a direct impact on the creation of new green areas or the revitalisation of existing ones. PLN 2 million has been allocated for the implementation of the first Green Budget. Residents' applications could include full construction documentation, a land development concept or just a description of the idea with an indication of the place where the green area should appear and in what form. It was important that the project would be related to a public space.

As a result of the first edition of the Green Budget, the residents, district councils, non-governmental organisations and housing cooperatives submitted 107 applications for a total amount of PLN 16 million, which were then subjected to a two-stage evaluation: formal and thematic. The applications selected for implementation met the accepted selection criteria and their implementation would significantly improve the quality of the city's greenery in various aspects. 24 projects have been put forward for implementation (9 to be fully implemented, 15 - in selected locations). Email: [email protected]

106 107 ECOLOGY PROJECT 34 BULGARIA NATURAL RESOURCES HEATING: USING MINERAL WATER SPRING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HEATING

Atanas Kirov Mayor of Straldzha Municipality

Innovative heating system: a Bulgarian municipality that uses a geothermal water source to heat its schools. Since the beginning of 2018, Straldzha Municipality has put into operation a new, economic method for heating public buildings - the use of a thermal spring. The overall objective of the project - sustainable local development and increasing the attractiveness of the region by improving the conditions in the educational and childcare facilities - is achieved through a centralised heating system with a renewable energy source: geothermal water from an existing drilling system, with a flow of 7 litres per second and a temperature above 75 degrees.

The implementation of the project has an impact on the strengthening and development of human capital at the local level - using an innovative, eco-friendly approach to lower the costs, reduce the pollution and raise the attractiveness of the region as a place to live and raise children - one of the main prerequisites for sustainable economic development. In addition, the energy efficiency of buildings improves and thus reduces heat and power costs. GHG emissions are significantly reduced and greater comfort is provi- ded for the schools and kindergartens that use this new method. Email: [email protected]

108 109 ECOLOGY PROJECT 35 AUSTRIA

OUR SOIL FOR BEES

Rudi Anschober Member of the Government of Upper Austria

Saving the bees: creating "bee-friendly" habitats in communities, by focusing on soil conservation and the planting of wildflowers. Soil is an essential habitat for wild bee species. As ecological diversity reduces, so too will the regional bee population and overall quality of life in the area. Communities can make a significant contribution to bee and soil conservation, and that's where this project comes in: bee-friendly communities abandon the use of synthetic chemical pesticides on public green spaces, plant a bee-friendly environment and invite people to turn their gardens into small oases for insects. Communities take the initiative as role models, mediators and awareness-makers, playing a key role locally.

Already 17 municipalities in Upper Austria have committed themselves to the project "Our Soil for Bees", as "Bee-Friendly Communities" working with the Soil Alliance Upper Austria. More than 10,000 m² of wildflower bee pastures have been created, over 13 hectares of meadows have been Email: converted into community property and numerous berry bushes have been [email protected] planted. Concrete proposals have been made to help communities bloom Website: with more native, bee-friendly plants. Implementation workshops put together http://www.anschober.at/presse/artikel/die-ersten-12-ooe-ge- a package of measures to be implemented over the next three years. This meinden-starten-durch-mit-initiativen-gegen-das-bienensterben/ also involves exchanging good practices with other communities.

110 111 ECOLOGY PROJECT 36 GERMANY REGIOTHEK

Erika Träger 3rd Mayor of the City of Passau

Transparency in food: an online platform designed to create traceable supply chains from farmers to restaurants. Regiothek is an online platform intended to create maximum food transparency from farm to fork – restaurant A gets beef from butcher B, who buys cattle from farmers C and D… supply chains like this are geographically visualised to create maximum traceability for the benefit of small farmers, food producers, restaurants and retail stores. External communication has become a big challenge for them. By creating a Regiothek account, they can meet consumers who wish to have as much food transparency as possible and who increasingly use digital devices to inform themselves.

Currently, the prototype online is being improved and enhanced in cooperation with 40 small businesses in the pilot region of Eastern Bavaria. The long-term goals are to create a Europe-wide social network for good foodstuffs; to allow people to buy what we consider to be "good food", corresponding to ecological, social and cultural criteria which are essential for our future; to support local farming, promote a sustainable and mostly organic agriculture, preserve traditional handicraft and culinary diversity; and to contribute to liveable regions, to an environmental-friendly production Website: system and to the promotion of healthy products. https://www.regiothek.de/

112 113 ECOLOGY PROJECT 37

SUSTAINABILITY STREET BY STREET NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE)

Liesbeth van Tongeren Former Member of Parliament

Neighborhood sustainability: a system in The Hague to support local sustainability projects. The project stimulates new sustainability initiatives from people in their neighbourhood to support the overall target of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2040. It has a democratic, accessible and participative setup. It works with a start-up subsidy for the initiatives of 5,000 euros for which they can make a plan with a sustainability target, in cooperation with a professional advisor. The subsidy can only be supplied to a legal entity (foundation), but the initiatives can claim start-up costs through the subsidy for registration of the foundation with the Chamber of Commerce, a notary, etc.

If people want to do something sustainable in their neighbourhood but do not know how to start, they are offered free advice in advance and during the accomplishment. Therefore the project has proved so far to be accessible and an increasing sustainability success among citizens in The Hague. Several of the initiatives turned into self-supporting companies.

Website: http://nws.eurocities.eu/MediaShell/media/ Citiesinaction_TheHague_neighbourhoodsustainability.pdf

114 115 ECOLOGY PROJECT 38 GERMANY THE "FREIBURGCUP"

Gerda Stuchlik Mayor Dezernat II Freiburg

Reusable cups: a system in Freiburg that aims to eliminate single-use coffee cups through the introduction of a reusable cup, accepted town-wide. Twelve million empty cups accumulate in Freiburg every year through drinking takeaway coffee, polluting the environment and reducing the city's cleanliness. At the end of November 2016, the Freiburg waste management company, ASF (Abfallwirtschaft und Stadtreinigung Freiburg), presented the "FreiburgCup" pilot project: durable cups offered for takeaway coffees in cafés and bakeries in the city centre. Customers who buy their takeaway coffees in a "FreiburgCup" pay a €1 deposit and can return the empty cup in all participating shops. The "FreiburgCup" prevents the disposal of a paper or plastic cup every time it is used. The participation of café operators in this campaign is voluntary, with the city of Freiburg paying for the introduction of the system, coordinated by the ASF. The pilot project has been well-received with enthusiastic interest from customers and restaurateurs alike.

The "FreiburgCup" started in November 2016 with 14 participating Email: businesses. Now 90 companies have joined as partners, with around 20,000 [email protected] cups already in circulation. Among them are standing cafés, bakeries, ice Website: cream parlours, as well as the cafeterias located in the central university https://freiburgcup.de/ buildings and the main railway station.

116 117 ECOLOGY PROJECT 39 ITALY

THE BANK OF RECYCLING

Vincenzo Castellano Deputy Mayor of Latronico

Promoting sustainability: a recycling system in Latronico that allows citizens to receive some money back. This project, launched in February 2017, consists of the installation in the municipal territory of two eco-compactors that allow citizens to insert packaging made of PET, HDPE and aluminium. Every single packaging unit entered has a value corresponding to €0.03, which can be spent in the affiliated shops of Latronico. This project is the first to be built by a municipality in Basilicata and one of a few in southern Italy. Multiple outcomes are achieved, including: promoting local shops and establishing a virtuous circle; rewarding compliant citizens with something concrete and creating a lasting impact on their lifestyle; promoting the principle of "waste as a resource"; promoting a more widespread environmental awareness based on reward.

The project has changed the perception of the waste cycle, so it is no longer seen as something independent from the actions of citizens, but something that changes in response to the virtue of every citizen. This virtuous cycle rewards the most deserving participants, the local shops, with the total involvement of citizens. In the long term, the project will create Email: substantial changes in the approach to separating waste collection and was- [email protected] te disposal thanks to the reward mechanism.

118 119 ECOLOGY PROJECT 40 SWEDEN

THE FIRST HYBRID BUS LINE IN SCANDINAVIA

Boel Godner Chair of the Municipal Board of Södertälje

Green buses: a silent and sustainable public transport system in Sweden that features a wireless bus stop charging system. Now Scandinavia's first hybrid bus line with wireless charging is on the way. A unique collaboration between Scania, Stockholm Lokaltrafik, Vattenfall, Södertälje municipality and The Royal Institute of Technology has resulted in a newly developed city bus. The aim is to develop a silent and sustainable public transport system. The wireless bus stop charging system means that the bus will automatically charge at the last stop of the line: 7 minutes of charging time is enough to drive on electricity the whole 10 km of the bus line. The technology is safe, efficient and environmentally friendly. The

project is in line with the environmental guidelines to lower CO2 emissions and improve the city centre's air quality. Furthermore, it is good for the de- velopment of the regional business climate.

This research project will be evaluated in terms of how the advanced technology functions in society. Experience from Södertälje will be used ahead of future sustainable traffic initiatives. Södertälje municipality has the Email: responsibility for the transport infrastructure in the area and has contributed [email protected] with knowledge, roads and resources for road installations to test the new Website: technology. www.lt.se/artikel/stockholm/sodertalje/sodertalje-forst-ut-med-elvagsbussar

120 121 CATEGORY HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 41 SWEDEN

ABORTION PREVENTION THROUGH FREE ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVES

Agneta Granström County Council Commissioner of Norrbotten Region

Free access to contraceptives: a local government provides free contraception to all women of 26 and below. The Norrbotten Region has been successfully preventing abortion by providing all women below the age of 26 with free access to contraceptives. The number of abortions was drastically reduced. A reason for the success is making the programme open to everyone in the age group, and not restricting it to particular subgroups or restricting it to certain kinds of contraceptives (like condoms).

It was a bold and controversial investment to make, but the results prove that the investment "pays off": lower costs for abortions compensate for the cost of the contraceptives. An important gain, says responsible politician Agneta Granström, is also that the region's midwives can now focus more on wanted rather than unwanted pregnancies.

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=98&artikel=6117986

124 125 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 42 ITALY

CITIZENSHIP INCOME GRANTED

Ina Dhimgjini Councillor for Social, Health, Third Sector and Housing Policies, Livorno Municipality

Mutually beneficial aid programme: a system in Livorno where families in economic distress can be supported in exchange for municipal aid work. Citizenship Income Granted (CIG) by the Municipality of Livorno is a pilot project aiming to reconsider municipal welfare tools and to tangibly support families facing economic difficulties because of unemployment, who are unable to meet their basic needs. CIG is an additional measure granted to people in social distress and economic poverty. This measure develops a form of mutual relationship where those who receive additional financial support repay the Municipality with 8 hours per week of activities in the public interest, such as cleaning local parks.

The CIG measure includes coordination with the Employment Agency: even if carrying out public services cannot be considered a working activity, it can provide a route for participants to re-enter the labour market. In the first year, the programme was in its testing phase and 100 families were granted €500 Email: per month (€300,000 total budget); in the second year, 250 families received [email protected] additional financial support extended for the whole year; in the third year the Website: number of families increased again to a budget of €450,000. Far from being http://www.comune.livorno.it/_nuovo_notiziario/it/default/ merely welfarism, CIG brought the welfare system closer to the citizen, 27081/Reddito-di-cittadinanza-locale-Roma-Tre-ne-studier-gradimento-ed empowering many families to take charge of their primary needs.

126 127 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 43 ITALY

FACTORY OF HOPE

Diego Iacono Giuseppe D'Onofrio Mayor of Chieuti Mayor of Serracapriola

Assisting the mentally ill: a programme in Chieuti to strengthen and expand the range of services for people with mental health handicaps. The 'Hopeificio' project, promoted by the Municipality of Chieuti and the social cooperative Medtraining of Foggia, in collaboration with the Local Health Unit 'Castriota e Corroppoli', and supported by Fondazione con il Sud (Foundation with the South), was created with the aim of strengthening and expanding the range of services for older people with senile dementia and young people with mental disability. The project aims to promote social inclusion and the protection of mental health.

The project proposes interventions aimed at the inclusion of individuals with mental disabilities into social and working life. In particular, it intends to initiate an olive processing and bottling factory, the proceeds of which will support the running of the project. The participants are 15 young adults coming out of psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation. The selected young people will benefit from psychosocial support, guidance, skills assessment, mentoring, and on-the-job training. After the first year, 3 people will be hired by the social cooperative and will take care of the management of the Email: factory and of the activities connected to it. [email protected]'

128 129 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 44 POLAND

GDANSK IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION MODEL - AN INNOVATION LEADING TO MORE JUSTICE

Paweł Adamowicz Mayor of Gdansk

Safe home for immigrants: city policy that delivers equal quality services for migrants and offers a support network. The Immigrant Integration Model Gdansk is a bottom-up process initiated by an non-governmental organisation, the Immigrants Support Centre, advocating the protection of immigrants' rights since 2013. In 2015, the mayor acknowledged immigrants' needs and the institutional barriers and discrimination they face, and in response started a cross-sector team on integration. The objectives of the model were to strengthen public sector competencies in delivering equal quality of services; for immigrants to become as self-sufficient, well-informed and participatory as possible; and for society to become more open towards both immigrants and refugees.

The process is ongoing and is a city policy implemented based on annual action plans. The changes take place at multiple levels through many actions: from soft competencies (over 300 city employees trained in anti-discrimination areas), to specific measures (a summer daycare for Roma children begging in the streets), to system solutions for the labour Email: market (specialised job advice and regulating temporary work agencies), [email protected] among others. Much effort has been put into social communication and Website: surveys show positive attitudes towards migrants are clearly higher in https://www.gdansk.pl/migracje/immigrant-integration-model,a,67017 Gdansk than in other Polish cities.

130 131 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 45 FRANCE

HANDICAP EQUALITY MISSION

Adrien Taquet Member of Parliament

Disability solutions: a programme that aims to provide help for disabled people, set up for and alongside disabled people. In France there are more than 10 million people with a disability, who suffer under the complexity and slowness of administrative procedures on a daily basis. In view of this observation, the Prime Minister created a mission for Jean-François Serres, member of the Social Economic and Environmental Council, to propose concrete solutions to make life more simple and fluid for people with disabilities.

In order to fulfil the objectives of the "Disability Equality Mission", an approach was adopted which places its focus on the needs of disabled people and creates proposals with them, in a participatory manner. Nearly 10,000 contributions were gathered via online consultations, which brought to light concrete examples of administrative difficulties. Ninety-five face-to- face interviews were conducted with people with disabilities and/or their families. About fifty associations submitted written contributions, and about ten round-table discussions took place. Seventy-one government deputies are now mobilised to share examples of good practice as well as difficulties of their local administrations. Email: [email protected]

132 133 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 46 ITALY

HARRAGA BOYS

Giuseppe Mattina Councillor for Department of Solidarity Citizenship, Law and Dignity of Living, Common Good and Participation, Palermo Municipality

Supporting unaccompanied minors: a programme in Palermo to provide a support system for migrant minors. This project supports the pathway to autonomy for unaccompanied migrant minors, considering their potential and promoting a network of social participants who share information, methods and tools. The activities included are: a) the social folder, an online platform managed by the Municipality of Palermo, which defines the individualised support of the minor and is constantly updated with information by all involved; b) three cycles of five laboratories, involving about 240 minors, which enhance their formal and informal skills and attitudes and develop a portfolio of skills for each, to promote self-awareness and integration into the social fabric;

c) orientation and profiling activities precede 85 work placements, some of which share school and work time so migrant minors can obtain a middle school certificate alongside work experience; many companies have renewed their internships at their expense or hired the boys; d) social housing is provided for young people leaving host communities at Casa Santa Chiara, Email: a place of connections and opportunities; this house is supported with [email protected] the proceeds of a tourist reception structure managed by other young Website: migrants. https://minoristranieri-neveralone.it/progetto/ragazzi-harraga/

134 135 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 47 IRELAND

IRELAND'S LGBTI+ YOUTH STRATEGY

Dr. Katherine Zappone TD Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

LGBTI+ at the forefront: an Irish strategy to improve the lives of LGBTI+ young people and to understand their challenges. The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020 is a first for Ireland and the world. It is informed by the views of thousands of young people. The strategy's Youth Advisory Group, which consists of 14 committed young people who contributed to the development of the strategy, also created a youth-friendly video about the strategy.

This is a three-year action-orientated strategy, and its mission is to ensure that all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included. The strategy guarantees a cross-governmental approach to put additional measures in place to further enhance the lives of LGBTI+ young people and address some of the key challenges they may face as part of their day-to-day lives. It will make a significant contribution towards the government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society and to build a more inclusive Ireland. The strategy revolves around three main goals: 1. Create a safe, supportive and inclusive Email: environment for LGBTI+ young people; 2. Improve the mental, physical and [email protected] sexual health, as well as the well-being of the entire LGBTI+ community; 3. Website: Develop the research and data environment to better understand the lives of https://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=4743 LGBTI+ young people.

136 137 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 48 IRELAND

LEGISLATION & POLICY TO PROTECT VICTIMS AND TACKLE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Frances Fitzgerald TD Former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for Justice and Equality

Stopping gender-based violence: groundbreaking legislation that grants protection for women against domestic violence. Frances Fitzgerald TD, on her appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality in 2016, took ground-breaking action to tackle violence against women, especially domestic violence, and to improve the legal system's response to both the crime and the victim. A set of three pieces of legislation was introduced: the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016, the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Bill 2016 and the Domestic Violence Bill 2017. Minister Fitzgerald worked closely with and included recommendations from women's and victims' organisations in the drafting process.

The bills received cross-party support and are now law. They will change the culture of how Ireland treats victims of domestic violence and sexual offences. Innovations in the legislation include a comprehensive definition of consent, protection for victims in all forms of intimate relationships, criminalising coercive control, as well as greater protection for children and victims of human trafficking. Buying sex services is also now unlawful. Email: Minister Fitzgerald also launched 'What would you do', a national media [email protected] campaign on domestic violence, as well as a website, Website: www.whatwouldyoudo.ie. This campaign was the first of its kind http://whatwouldyoudo.ie in Ireland.

138 139 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 49

PERSPECTIVE STUDIES SWITZERLAND FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Ruth Thommen

Student refugees: a network designed to help refugees achieve success within higher education institutes. As a representation of Swiss students' interests, the VSS (the Swiss Student's Union) is involved in promoting study access for student refugees within the framework of Perspective Studies for Equal Opportunities. Qualified refugees should be able to access higher education in Switzerland and tap into their potential, for themselves, society and the world of work. Through "Perspective Studies" the VSS builds up, assists and coordinates a national structure of local mentoring projects for student refugees.

The project focuses on providing refugees with coherent information, student mentors and guiding professionals. In addition, the project supports the coordination, quality assurance and promotion of student engagement for student refugees. As a result of these measures, refugees will have access to information online free of charge and to personal support at universities. This promotes social integration within the university environment and society, and strengthens the awareness of their opportunities if they persevere with the Email: admission process and their studies. Currently, eight universities participate [email protected] throughout Switzerland. Website: www.perspektiven-studium.ch

140 141 HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT 50 POLAND

PODKARPACKA'S COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Tadeusz Ferenc Patricia Mitro President of Chairwoman the City of Rzeszów

Empowering women: a council of women designed to create a network of activists and diagnose social problems. The aims of establishing the Podkarpackie Council of Women are: to increase the activity of women in social life in Podkarpacie; to create a network of activists in the Podkarpacie region; to diagnose social problems locally and regionally; to initiate discussions about recommending socially useful changes.

Previously only 15% of employees in local government authorities were women, proving the need to increase the participation and activity of women. In January 2018, the Rzeszów Federation of Active Women was established, advising local authorities and working for the benefit regional inhabitants. It consists of professors, doctors, lawyers, sociologists, journalists, ambassadors, women and activists who have been supporting women's rights and issues for many years. Thanks to the activities of the Podkarpackie Council of Women and the Rzeszów Federation of Active Women, the stereotypical attitude towards the role of women in local government authorities is changing. Activities are also directed towards social activists in the Podkarpackie region, to strengthen their voice and power in order to Email: bring about real change in local government authorities. [email protected]

142 143 CATEGORY JOBS JOBS PROJECT 51 SWEDEN

BOOST BY FC ROSENGÅRD

Sedat Arif Deputy Mayor for labour market and social services in Malmö

Creating opportunities: individualised programme for economically vulnerable youths to help them find employment. Boost, by the football team FC Rosengård, is a labour market project taking place in socially and economically vulnerable areas. It is undertaken in colla- boration with the Municipality of Malmö City alongside several other munici- palities and the Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Agency). The project is reaching out to young people in need of an individualised, tailor-made programme to help them enter the labour market. Young indivi- duals seeking employment can face difficulties in accessing traditional labour market programmes due to lack of basic education or working life experien- ce. In this project, traditional tools such as interview training are alternated with activities promoting health and well-being.

Through the project's vast network of employers, the job seekers are being matched with internships and employment positions. The project has achieved very positive results. Out of the individuals going through Boost, over 70 per cent have obtained a job or have entered an education Email: programme. Boost is a grassroots project, and the political achievement [email protected] consisted in having the courage to believe in the programme and granting Website: it the necessary allocations. http://www.boostbyfcr.se

146 147 JOBS PROJECT 52 GERMANY CARE FOR INTEGRATION AND RELATED SERVICES [email protected]

Barbara Steffens Former Minister of Health, Emancipation and Care of the Elderly

Supporting refugees: assisting refugees in their professional integration into nursing and healthcare professions. The project aims to open up lasting opportunities in the labour market for refugees and at the same time reduce prejudices in the care sector. Refugees who want to work in a nursing or healthcare profession in North Rhine-Westphalia should be better supported in their professional integration. The Ministry of Health and Nursing therefore supports the project "welcome@healthcare - Coordination Office for Refugees in the Nursing and Health Care Professions NRW".

Nursing and healthcare sector professionals offer refugees the opportunity to pursue a meaningful and sustainable vocation. Interested men and women, with a sound education and a secure professional perspective, can take this opportunity to become well-integrated and actively participating members of their new society.

148 149 JOBS PROJECT 53 AUSTRIA

GRAZ FUND FOR PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Kurt Hohensinner City Councillor

Graz is supporting the professional development of its poorest employees with grants for education and training. The goal of the "Graz Fund for Promotion and Development" (GraFo) launched by the Work and Employment Unit of the Social Welfare Office in the City of Graz, is to provide better employment and income opportunities for people threatened by poverty through investment in education. The GraFo supports women and men aged (18 - 64) who are employed, have been living in Graz for at least six months and have a household income below the official poverty threshold (according to EU-SILC criteria).

The GraFo supports professional development not only for employees but also for entrepreneurs who live under the poverty line. It includes courses for basic and generally useful skills for the labour market, as well as job-specific training and retraining at recognised educational institutions. A maximum amount of EUR 1,000 per person can be granted. Additionally, the project team of the ÖSB Consulting GmbH offers free qualification advice and Email: supports candidates through the application process. Since the project [email protected] started in 2015, more than 1189 people have been advised and 321 have Website: been financially supported in their training (as of 12 July 2018). More than half http://www.graz.at/cms/beitrag/10255147/7762114/ of the beneficiaries have already improved their employment situation in the Grazer_Fonds_fuer_Aufstieg_und_Entwicklung.html first year after their training.

150 151 JOBS PROJECT 54 LITHUANIA INTEGRATED HOME CARE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN LITHUANIA AT LONG LAST

Ramune Jurkuviene Adviser to the Minister for Social Security and Labour at the time of the project start; currently she is the Chair of Social Work

Professional home care: a programme in Lithuania to provide assistance to people caring for family members in the home. There were no home nursing practices for patients with chronic illnesses until the start of this initiative, despite orders issued by the Ministers of Health and of Social Security and Labour (MSSL). Patients were mostly nursed by their family members while not receiving professional home nursing services. In 2011, the programme for managing change through innovation was initia- ted. Before the start, motivated nursing and social care professionals in the municipalities were invited to discuss this social challenge and to develop the programme. In July 2012, the Integrated Care Programme was launched with the establishment of 70 integrated care teams (social workers and their assistants, nurses and their assistants, as well as physiotherapists) in 21 municipalities. The project was financed by the European Social Fund.

Its goal was to develop a home care system for persons with long-term chronic illness, integrating social care and nursing, aiming to provide quality care and nursing at home and to enable the informal caregivers to rest or to Email: look for employment. The project exceeded the expectations by serving 1172 [email protected] patients and 1005 family members in 2015. After the qualitative and Website: quantitative evaluations, the Integrated Care Programme was upscaled https://www.ijic.org/articles/10.5334/ijic.2509/ for implementation in all the municipalities of Lithuania by 2016.

152 153 JOBS PROJECT 55 ITALY

ON / OFF FACTORY

Michele Guerra Councillor for Culture, Parma Municipality

Innovative job creation: an initiative in Parma to support self-entrepreneurship and youth employability. Promoted by the Department of Youth Policies of the Municipality of Parma, conceived and managed by the Social Cooperative Group School in collaboration with the On / Off Association, the initiative was established in 2013 to support self-entrepreneurship and youth employability through the use of tools, spaces, collaborative approaches and services such as co- working, fablab, support for business planning, innovative teaching and non-formal education.

Since the opening, 200 laboratories have been implemented in collaboration with schools, almost 100 co-workers and as many makers hosted, and the birth and development of 15 micro-enterprises has been supported, accompanying the entrepreneurial and professional growth of local under-35 people. Officine On / Off is recognised at the national level as a best practice in the field of youth policies for experimenting with a new public-private model for the management of a collaborative, inter- generational and communitarian site in support of the social and Website: technological innovation of the area. http://officineonoff.com www.fablabparma.org

154 155 JOBS PROJECT 56 IRELAND

PROTECTION FOR FREELANCE WORKERS

Ivana Bacik Senator

Pioneering legislation: a law that gives freelance workers the right to be collectively represented by trade unions. In 2017, the Irish parliament passed legislation which restored to low-paid, vulnerable freelance workers the fundamental right to be collectively represented by trade unions. This legislation began as a Private Members Bill sponsored by Senator Ivana Bacik. It came after years of campaigning by trade unions following a 2004 ruling by the Irish Competition Authority. Senator Bacik worked collaboratively with Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD, the then Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and her officials, and trade unions. She built alliances with politicians across the political spectrum, resulting in the legislation receiving cross-party support.

The legislation has been hailed by the European Trade Union Congress and International Trade Union Confederation as a pioneering move valuing employment rights over competition law. It has attracted widespread international interest and praise for its innovative approach to workers' rights. This is a model for effectively bringing about change in a parliamentary Email: democracy. As a result, trade unions will no longer be prevented from [email protected] providing support for freelance members. It will allow, for example, unions Website: to represent freelance journalists, musicians and actors and to ensure https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2016/8/?tab=debates minimum pay rates are maintained for this vulnerable group of workers.

156 157 JOBS PROJECT 57 SWEDEN

THE CHEF DUEL

Camilla Andersson Sparring Member of the board of the local Municipality Council of Falun

Inspiring future chefs: a programme in Falun, Sweden designed to increase interest in becoming a chef. There is a lack of trained chefs in Sweden – in the coming years, the restaurant industry will need to recruit 5,000 new chefs. At the same time, fewer and fewer young people apply to the hotel and restaurant school programme where you can train as a chef. In 2016, the programme in Falun threatened to close down after only four pupils applied. The Chef Duel initiated by Camilla Sparring, herself a cook at a local kindergarten and a member of the board of the local municipal council of Falun for the Centre Party, changed this with her idea to have pupils compete with each other in a Chef Duel.

The Chef Duel significantly increased the interest in learning how to become a chef. From one year to the next, the number of applicants to the hotel and restaurant programme in Falun increased from 4 to 26. Not only did Camilla Sparring's initiative have concrete local results, it has also spread: in 2018, chef duels have been organised in 7 municipalities across Sweden, and Email: 2,500 pupils have participated. [email protected]

Website: https://www.falun.se/naringsliv--arbete/arbete/utbildning--bransch-i-samverkan.html

158 159 JOBS PROJECT 58 AUSTRIA

WAFF EDUCATION ACCOUNT

Renate Brauner Former Executive City Councillor of Finance,

© PID der Stadt Wien/Ingo Pertramer Economic and International Affairs

Subsidised education and training courses to help Viennese secure a fulfilling working life. A fast-paced and competitive labour market requires employees to cons- tantly improve and expand their skills. The waff education account aims to help everyone in Vienna achieve a secure and fulfilled working life. Individual subsidies for vocational training and further education help the employed or unemployed stem the cost of such classes. For example, to complete the equivalent of an apprenticeship or higher education programme; to take additional courses, complementing existing skills; to renew or expand on previous training; or for language classes.

All Viennese currently in employment are eligible for free advice on their individual options regarding education, training, job security and job mobility. An advisor from waff will accompany them through the entire process of research, decision-making and the application for financial sup- port. All courses which are subsidised by waff are provided by organisations which carry a certificate of quality. For Viennese providers, waff operates the certification process. There is reciprocal recognition of all Austrian states' certificates. In addition, waff provides an open access database, publishing Website: comprehensive up-to-date information on upcoming courses across all fields http://waff.at/en/service-for-people-in-employment/support-for-further-education in Vienna.

160 161 JOBS PROJECT 59

WALTHAM FOREST SERVICESTORE UNITED KINGDOM

Clare Coghill Councillor, Leader of Waltham Forest Council

Using e-commerce to generate income: a London borough uses an online store to sell services and generate revenue for public services. The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a borough in North East London. After years of budget cuts from central government, taking 63% off local authority funding, Waltham Forest Council had to consider whether it should cut its services to the public or find alternative ways to continue providing them. In an innovative move, the Council decided to sell a range of its non-statutory services in a new way, embracing e-commerce principles.

The Waltham Forest service store opened in April 2017: a new online portal for booking and paying for a range of services. Service store now is a Council-run business that offers highly trained and accredited teams to provide services including home repairs, pest control, and white goods removal. Service store also offers CCTV installation and monitoring for businesses and registered social landlords. Since its launch in April 2017, it has generated £1.1 million in revenue that has been reinvested in Council Email: services and created jobs for local people. Embracing a commercial [email protected] business model and innovative marketing techniques, the Council now Website: brings in revenue it can invest in frontline services. https://walthamforestservicestore.co.uk/

162 163 JOBS PROJECT 60 POLAND

YOUTH IN LODZ

Hanna Zdanowska Mayor of the City of Łódź

Study in Lodz: a programme to encourage students to come and study in the the city of Łódź, Poland. The City of Łódź created the programme in 2008. The partners of the programme are the largest Łódź universities and leading local employers. The main aims of the programme are encouraging young people to start studies in Łódź, supporting the development of students' professional careers and providing local employers with highly qualified staff.

The most important initiatives are: a) a scholarship program - participating employers fund scholarships in the fields of study whose graduates are most wanted by local employers; b) an Internship Portal through which young people can gain work experience in internships and on-the-job training in the best companies in Łódź; c) free professional training - organised in cooperation with the partners of the project; d) the "Youth in Łódź - I have an idea for startup" competition is dedicated to future and currently operating young entrepreneurs in Łódź; e) Meet Local Employers - a series of visits to the local employers; f) a discount card – entitles students from Łódź to Email: discounts of up to 40% with partners of the project (cinemas, theatres, [email protected] sport and leisure centres, restaurants, language schools). Website: https://mlodziwlodzi.pl/

164 165 CATEGORY PROSPERITY PROSPERITY PROJECT 61 IRELAND

ATLANTIC ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

Seamus Coyle Seán Kyne TD Patsy O'Brien Councillor, Minister of State Councillor, former Chairperson of the for Rural Affairs Chairperson of the Northern and Western and Natural Resources Northern and Western Regional Assembly Regional Assembly

Creating economic prosperity: an initiative designed to promote investment, living, and learning within the Atlantic corridor region of Ireland. From Kerry to Derry, the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) is one region with a shared goal to create economic prosperity along the Atlantic coast of Ireland. This initiative is a collaboration of geographical, sectoral and thematic interests with the aim of building a brighter and sustainable future for the 1.7 million people of the Atlantic region.

This project is a world-class example of 'place-based' development, promoting investment, living, learning and working in the region. The Atlantic Economic Corridor has the support of national and local government and of State agencies as well as businesses, education institutions and communities. The initiative wishes to bring together the State capital investment programme with the potential investment of the private sector to strengthen the region's economic contribution and make the Atlantic region a better place in which to live and work. Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.atlanticeconomiccorridor.ie/

168 169 PROSPERITY PROJECT 62 BELGIUM CREATIVE & DIGITAL DISTRICT CHARLEROI

Paul Magnette Former Chief Minister of Wallonia Region, Mayor of the City of Charleroi

Revitalisation through digitisation: an economic plan designed to help the city of Charleroi reinvigorate its economy. Charleroi is a former coal and steel city and one of the most socially deprived post-industrial urban areas in Western Europe. Young people are especially vulnerable with youth unemployment at over 40%. In late 2016, the biggest employer in the city decided to close its factory, leaving 3,000 workers jobless and adding an additional layer of social misery. The Govern- ment decided that this disaster could be a stepping stone to radically accele- rate local growth in new economic areas, including the digital area.

Through a bottom-up process involving more than 200 local citizens and businesses, innovative projects were identified and put together in the CATCH plan ('Catalysts for Charleroi'). There is a strong emphasis on measuring progress, providing transparency and evaluating results on job creation. After more than a year, the CATCH plan has delivered tangible results with an impact on local job creation in the digital area: creation of a wide range of digital training, with both short programmes and more Email: extensive courses; openings of new co-working spaces, clusters and [email protected] incubators to bring self-employed, startups and mid- to large companies Website: together; attraction of educational incentives to raise awareness and help http://www.catch-charleroi.be/ individuals embrace digitisation.

170 171 PROSPERITY PROJECT 63 GERMANY DIGITAL VILLAGES

Steffen Hess Randolf Stich Research Programme State Secretary Manager, Smart Rural Areas in Rheinland-Pfalz

Connecting rural communities: a development project designed to support local businesses in rural villages. Digital Villages is a development project, designed to connect communities in remote rural areas through digital solutions. One of the first applications of the programme consists in the conjunction of local retailers and an online retail platform. Thereby local businesses can be supported, while also enjoying the advantages of online retail. This example illustrates the great potential of combining local infrastructure and technical innovation.

Website: https://www.digitale-doerfer.de/

172 173 PROSPERITY PROJECT 64

HELIX (NEWCASTLE) UNITED KINGDOM

Nick Forbes Councillor, Leader of Newcastle City Council

A centre for innovative ideas: a science and innovation project that focuses on sustainable solutions for Newcastle. Newcastle Helix is a partnership between Newcastle University, Newcastle City Council and Legal & General as a corporate partner. This joint development project brings together businesses, top researchers and communities in a unique, sustainable, innovation community in the heart of Newcastle. Situated on a site from the city's industrial past, Helix draws on Newcastle's proud history of innovation and represents an exciting future of growth and sustainability for the city's people. The award-winning Urban Sciences Building and The Core, a seven-storey home for knowledge-based science and technology SMEs, is already in place, with more development planned in 2018 and beyond. Bringing together world-class researchers, creative start-ups and international brands, it is creating a unique space for collaboration and innovation.

The focus of Helix is data science, urban science, life science and to create jobs and homes alongside the work carried out in the new developments. Website: Forward plans include the creation of over 450 homes available at Helix for https://www.newcastlehelix.com/ anyone to rent or buy. They will be an exemple of sustainable urban Email: development and smart homes that are efficient to heat and that represent [email protected] the future of living for people of all ages.

174 175 PROSPERITY PROJECT 65 ITALY

HOTEL VILLAGE

Michelangelo Giansiracusa Mayor of Ferla

Bottom-up tourist experience: a system that integrates tourist options in Ferla. BorgoAlbergo is the first hotel-village in the South of Italy with an integrated tourist accommodation system that includes all the respective facilities in the area. BorgoAlbergo integrates tourist accommodation businesses in the municipal territory of Ferla with the innovative form of hospitality called "Widespread Hospitality": abandoned houses in the village are made accessible due to tourist rent, while citizens-owners become guides of the tourist experience. It is a bottom-up system, where the community opens up and offers different types of reception for all accommodation require- ments. The goal is to increase the tourist offering of the village with the development of a horizontal, sustainable offer, respectful of the community accommodation.

The whole system unified several single entities in a single voice promoted by the Municipality of Ferla, creating a synergetic offer of opportunities to stay in Ferla. The benefit is double, both for tourists who can now choose Email: from a more extensive, punctual and organic tourist offer, as well as for the [email protected] Ferla community by increasing the occupation rate in existing structures and Website: creating job opportunities for those who have accepted the gambit of http://www.comune.ferla.sr.it/borgoalbergo widespread hospitality.

176 177 PROSPERITY PROJECT 66 AUSTRIA

KMU DIGITAL - THE AUSTRIAN DIGITISATION INITIATIVE

Harald Mahrer President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Former Federal Minister of Science and Economy of Austria

Digitising small businesses: an initiative designed to help SMEs take concrete steps towards digitising their business. Digitisation offers enormous opportunities. However, small and medium companies (SMEs, German: KMU) often don't know how they should approach digitisation. For the 99% of Austrian companies which are small businesses with few employees, the KMU DIGITAL digitisation initiative offers free events, videos, manuals and a funding programme with individual consulting and training. More than 500 digitisation consultants have been trained and certified so that consultations can be carried out all over Austria. Each company can receive up to 4,000 euros of funding.

The programme offers: 1. Free online status check: "How digital is my business?" to identify the starting position. 2. Free potential analysis: "What should change?" Consultants help to analyse digital trends, opportunities and risks for the company and create a digitisation map with suggestions for next steps. 3. Funded consulting: "How do I get there?" With a consultant's help, the company develops an individual digitisation strategy, incorporating e-commerce & social media, business models & processes, and IT security. 4. Funded training for entrepreneurs and employees with over 1,000 different Website: programmes. So far, around 7,000 applications to the programme have been https://www.kmudigital.at submitted.

178 179 PROSPERITY PROJECT 67 FRANCE

REGIONAL INVESTMENT SOCIETY

Dominique David Member of Parliament

Promoting local investment: encouraging citizens to invest in local companies. The aim of the project is to link citizens with local companies, by encouraging individuals to invest their savings (even small amounts of money) in regional companies. By funding their local economy, citizens benefit from the process (through attractive interest rates) and at the same time support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Citizens, by using their funds, can influence the economic development of their region. Using this innovative and original financial tool gives these SMEs a particular competitive advantage. This project also enhances dialogue between producers or service providers and consumers and users, which supports the success of this initiative.

Email: [email protected]

180 181 PROSPERITY PROJECT 68 ITALY

TORINO CITY LAB

Elena Deambrogio Paola Pisano Head of Smart City & EU Councillor for Innovation, Projects Unit Turin Municipality

Improving the quality of urban life: a series of innovation labs based in Turin that focus on innovative solutions to problems in an urban setting. Torino Living Lab promotes, develops and tests new innovative solutions in a real context: citizens, businesses and public administration explore and experiment together to develop innovative products, technologies and services for ​​the city, with the objective to test its functionality and usefulness, and to evaluate the effects on quality of life.

The aim is to assist businesses in improving the effectiveness and sustainability of their solutions, and consequently to support them in reducing time-to-market. The model is now evolving towards "Torino City Lab" which is thought of as a permanent "innovation laboratory" to allow the testing of "frontier innovations". The key features of the model include: identification of a single entry point within the Public Administration; defining targeted, simplified procedures and tools for testing; creation of a support ecosystem, including representatives from business, public utilities and research; Email: strategic use of public data; and active participation of citizens. [email protected] Torino City Lab is currently being co-designed and will be launched in Website: September 2018. http://www.torinolivinglab.it

182 183 PROSPERITY PROJECT 69 FRANCE

VILLEURBANNE AT HEART

Bruno Bonnell Member of Parliament

New methods to secure funding: a system that connects local businesses and NPOs to organise sponsorship. Coeur Villeurbanne (CV) aims to compensate the disappearance of the "réserve parlementaire", a budget that was used to support local non-profit or sports organisations. Instead of seeking another charity budget to compensate the former, CV proposes an original way to provide resources: a platform connecting the local business community and the NPOs to organise skill-based and material sponsorships rather than just philanthropic money. After matching, a company can allocate some staff at its expense to optimise the operations of an NPO or a sports Club, e.g. a buyer can reduce procurement costs, or a professional HR can help to coach a team.

The company can also propose storage space, cars, meeting rooms to contribute to the cost optimisation of the organisations. CV has defined a thorough process to encourage local businesses to participate for their own benefit, both internally by assuming their social responsibility and externally by connecting with their environment. CV has also encouraged the NPOs to Email: adopt a new attitude and reform their traditional way of seeking funds. The [email protected] positive initial reactions on both sides prove that CV, like a political loom, is Website: weaving sustainable links between companies and NPOs. https://www.brunobonnell-villeurbanne.fr/

184 185 PROSPERITY PROJECT 70 IRELAND

WATERFORD GREENWAY

Gerard Barron Declan Doocey Damien Geoghegan Former Councillor, Councillor, Mayor of Councillor, Waterford City Waterford City County Waterford and County Council and former and County Council Mayor of County Waterford and former Mayor of Waterford Encouraging tourism: a hiking trail built along a disused railway line from Waterford to Dungarvan in Ireland. The Waterford Greenway is a spectacular 46 km off-road cycling and walking coastal trail developed by Waterford City and County Council along a disused railway line from Ireland's oldest city Waterford to the stunning harbour town of Dungarvan. It has become an important national tourism asset, creating employment and benefiting local communities and the economy in a rural area that was in decline.

Between its opening in March and December 2017, the project has been a spectacular success with almost 250,000 walking or cycling Waterford Greenway in its first year. In a recent survey of over 1,000 visitors to the Greenway, 68% said they travelled to Waterford mainly to use the Greenway, showing its impact on tourism. Local people see the Greenway as an excellent opportunity to pursue enterprises not previously considered Email: viable. Tourism and recreation-related spending on items such as bicycle [email protected] hire, food and lodging are just a few of the ways it has positively impacted on [email protected] the local economy and Waterford more generally. Developed at the cost of 15 [email protected] million euros, Waterford Greenway is an Irish award-winning success story. Website: http://www.visitwaterfordgreenway.com/

186 187 CATEGORY QUALITY OF LIFE QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 71 GERMANY #FREEINTERRAIL

Alexander Graf Rebecca Harms Vincent- Martin Speer Lambsdorff Member of the Immanuel Herr Initiator Member of European Parliament Initiator German Parliament Exploring Europe: an Interrail pass granting free train travel to young Europeans. On their 18th birthday, every EU citizen receives a congratulatory note, information about mobility in Europe and a voucher for a 1-month Interrail pass, granting free train travel across Europe to the holder. This is the idea of #FreeInterrail that has gathered broad support within the EU and at national level. As the first 15,000 young Europeans in the pilot project are travelling and exploring their home continent in the summer of 2018, the European Commission has promised up to 700 million euros for 2021-2027 as part of #DiscoverEU. István Ujhelyi Manfred Weber This initiative intends to: increase youth mobility and access to international Member of the Member of the travel regardless of financial or national background; combat stereotypes and European Parliament European Parliament prejudices by enabling first-hand encounters with people in other countries; foster intercultural friendships and relationships; increase youth interest in the EU, its institutions and political processes; be the first EU programme that reaches all citizens; give all Europeans an offer which unites them across borders and generations; and support sustainable and green travel.

Website: http://freeinterrail.eu/

190 191 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 72 ITALY

ADOPT A GRANDAD

Laura Galimberti Pierfrancesco Anna Scavuzzo Councillor Majorino Deputy Mayor of Milan for Education Councillor for Social Policies, Health and Rights

A meal across generations: a project in Milan designed to increase social cohesion by having senior citizens share meals with schoolchildren. "Adotta un nonno" is part of the "I don't waste" project, launched in the school year 2014-2015 as part of Milan's food policy, with the aim of reducing food waste in school canteens through various actions. "Adotta un nonno" addresses elderly social services users and children in primary and secondary schools in Milan, with the dual objective of not wasting uneaten school meals and promoting intergenerational contact, encouraging integration and inclusion. The "grandparents", who live in social housing, share lunch with the students in the schools and spend an important moment of the day with them, thus avoiding eating lunch alone at home.

In this way an inclusive education promotes caring relationships and the meeting between different generations. While the elderly can convey their wealth of knowledge and values, children enrich and make this meeting stimulating through their joy and curiosity, which often leads to a relationship that goes beyond lunchtime and continues in the classroom. The positive results of the last four school years will lead the Municipal Administration to Email: relaunch the project for the 2018/2019 school year, involving a greater [email protected] number of schools and seniors.

192 193 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 73 ITALY

CIVIC CROWDFUNDING

Cristina Tajani Councillor for Labour Policies, Economic Development, Commerce and Human Resources, Milan Municipality

Co-funding citizen-organised projects: crowdfunding initiative focused on making Milan a more inclusive and sustainable city. The City of Milan supported a bottom-up crowdfunding initiative by allocating € 400,000 as co-funding in favour of projects of public interest with a high social impact. The purpose was to foster the implementation of innovative ideas that would increase the quality of urban life, making Milan a more inclusive and sustainable city. It represents the first case in Italy of a local go- vernment using crowdfunding tools for match-funding with the administration.

How it worked: the projects that collected 50% of their budget from donations would receive from the City of Milan an equal amount in co-funding. Through the civic crowdfunding, Milan experimented, during 18 months, with innovative ways to finance projects of public interest by encouraging the pooling of public and private resources to support high-impact social projects, and by promoting a direct citizens' involvement in the decisions of a public administration on where to allocate the money. The projects went into a crowdfunding platform in four different rounds and 88% of them reached the goal. The platform was chosen through a previous public procurement tender Email: and featured a dedicated space for the municipality projects, visible at natio- [email protected] nal level.

194 195 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 74 ITALY

COMMUNITY LABS

Giuliano Barigazzi Councillor for Health and Welfare, Bologna Municipality

Creating cohesive communities: laboratories that partner with local community organisations to create initiatives that focus on inclusion and social cohesion in marginalised communities. Laboratori di Comunità are laboratories promoting inclusion and social cohesion and offering innovative responses through action involving private and public parties, local communities and NGOs. Activities include neighbourhood caretaking, a people's fitness centre, pasta production, tailoring (mending and production of outfits created by participants), and storytelling. In some cases these activities are developed into 'start-ups' which also generate an income for participants. The activities implemented respond to increasingly complex needs resulting from the changing social landscape.

Users and implementers are both involved through co-planning procedu- res, resulting in the preservation of human resources and enhanced social integration. Activities are focused on including marginalised individuals and groups, who are at risk of social exclusion. The inclusive nature of the initiatives encouraged resident citizens' participation together with participants from different social and cultural backgrounds. Activities also Email: supported the refurbishment and restoration of the buildings hosting the [email protected] laboratories.

196 197 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 75 IRELAND

DUBLIN BIKES

Andrew Montague Nial Ring Councillor, Dublin City Councillor, Council and former Lord Lord Mayor of Dublin Mayor of Dublin

Dublinbikes - one of the world's most successful bike sharing schemes, providing green, healthy and accessible transport. Dublin City Council's Dublinbikes scheme was one of the first bike-sharing schemes introduced in Europe and it has proven to be one of the most successful, with its 1,600 bikes generating over 4 million trips a year. Since the introduction of the scheme in 2009, Dublinbikes continues to expand, with 15 new bike stations and 100 new bikes added in 2018. The scheme makes it easy to borrow a bike, and its bargain price of just €25 for an annual membership ensured exceptional ridership from day one. The bike stations are clustered close together in the city centre, with each station a five-minute walk to another station - this has proven to be a key success factor.

This project has succeeded in attracting new people to cycling, with surveys showing that around 40% of members had never cycled in Dublin before its launch. The scheme has effectively widened the footprint of the city centre, as people can travel further to make use of the city's amenities. This is seen Email: in the lunchtime surge in usage when people use the bikes to meet up with [email protected] friends for lunch. It is now easier to travel around the city, it has improved the [email protected] environment with fewer motorised journeys and improved public health by Website: encouraging more active transport. http://www.dublinbikes.ie

198 199 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 76 BULGARIA FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: REDUCING THE COST OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PUBLIC TRAVEL

Georgi Maradzhiev Mayor of Stamboliyski Municipality

Saving money: a municipality in Bulgaria is offering free public transport by purchasing its own buses instead of hiring a company to provide the service. The Mayor of Stamboliyski started a project to convert the current transport system in the Municipality into a free service. The action was taken after detailed analysis regarding the costs and the contracts with the private com- panies that currently operate the system. The Municipality will use buses for internal transport within the town, as well as transport between Stamboliyski and the four villages within the Municipality.

The calculations made by the administration show that a small municipality such as Stambolyski can afford to buy its own equipment and personnel and "break even" in comparison to the current financial proposals that private companies offer within two years. Following the two years, the Municipality will save some 70% of the money it currently spends on transport. The project will cover the needs of a mid-sized municipality of around 23,000 people.

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

200 201 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 77 SPAIN

HOSPITAL OF CERDANYA

Alba Vergés Ministry of Health of France Minister of Health and Administration Région of Catalonia Languedoc-Roussillon Co-owners

Cross-border hospital: a hospital on the Spanish and French border offering medical service in three languages for citizens of both countries. This is the first time in Europe that a cross-border hospital has emerged to provide emergency-care hospital services on both sides of the border, and to meet the need of proximity for French and Spanish citizens. The idea of a cross-border hospital offering healthcare to the population of Cerdanya and Capcir began to take shape in the late 1990s because the French zone did not have a hospital within an hour's drive, and they only had access to a system of emergencies and general practitioners.

Many French citizens were going to the hospital on the other side of the border, thus causing administrative and financial difficulties. The new Hospital of Cerdanya opened in 2014, ending these difficulties. It is a hospital run jointly by the French Health Ministry and the Catalan Health Department, integrating different cultures and languages. This project aims to integrate health services from both sides of the border, harnessing the best from each Email: system and working with the existing health networks to roll out a complete [email protected] and adapted service. Everything is in three languages: Spanish, Catalan and Website: French. The only border: quality of sanitary systems. http://www.hcerdanya.eu/en

202 203 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 78 IRELAND

PEACE LINK - BUILDING RELATIONS THROUGH SPORT

Sean Gilliland David Maxwell Pat Treanor Councillor, Chairperson Councillor, Councillor, Monaghan of Ballybay & Clones Chairperson of County Council Municipal District Monaghan County Council

Community building through sports: a sports facility on the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland border that focuses on building peaceful relations. The Peace Link Project was developed by the Clones Erne East Sports Partnership which was a consortium of community, sporting and statutory organisations based along the Fermanagh (Northern Ireland) and Monaghan (Republic of Ireland) border region. This initiative was built on previous work, bringing community and sporting organisations together to work strategically and collaboratively to build peace through the function of sport.

The project aimed to provide a sporting hub from which activities and events could be delivered that would build peaceful and meaningful relationships across the border region. The sporting hub is located within walking distance of Clones town centre and is approximately 500m from the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The project received cross-party support in both jurisdictions. The Peace Link facilitates the implementation Email: of a Building Relations Through Sports Programme. Opened in 2014, the [email protected] project surpasses all expectations in terms of building community relations [email protected] through sports and is a hub for fostering a healthy and vibrant community for Website: all ages and backgrounds. http://www.thepeacelink.eu/

204 205 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 79 SWEDEN

SECURE ONLINE ACCESS TO YOUR OWN MEDICAL RECORDS

Daniel Forslund Commissioner for Innovation, Region of Stockholm

Modernising Swedish healthcare by providing secure online access to medical records enhances information sharing, patient rights and welfare, as well as health outcomes. The Commissioner for Innovation and eHealth at Stockholm County Council has initiated a wide-scale implementation of a service that will provide all patients in the greater Stockholm region with secure online access to their own medical records. The initiative makes it mandatory for all healthcare providers in the region to provide patients with a secure online access to their own medical records. Patients could previously only access part of their record, and it was difficult to share information between different healthcare providers, eg. different hospitals in the Stockholm region.

This project has provided patients with extended rights and simplified access to important information both for patients and for different caregivers, making a great contribution to modernising healthcare. This project is about simplifying difficult matters for patients, enabling them to easily access information about what is written in their records, providing a chance to Email: increase trust between patients and healthcare providers and discourage [email protected] abuse of power. Enhancing access to information supports democracy, while Website: digitalising information has a positive effect on environmental sustainability. http://www.danielforslund.se/category/e-halsa/

206 207 QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECT 80

SUGAR SMART BRISTOL UNITED KINGDOM

Asher Craig Councillor, Deputy Mayor of Bristol City Council with responsibility for Communities (Public Health, Public Transport, Libraries, Parks), Events and Equalities

Sugar Smart Bristol helps citizens become aware of their own sugar consumption, hidden sugars in foods, and how to make healthier choices. In 2016 Bristol became a sugar-smart city, part of the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation social movement to reduce sugar consumption and working in partnership with a range of local organisations to spread the message. Bristol's Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors fully supported the programme which was led by a Public Health Consultant. Our vision was for Bristol to become a sugar-smart city, creating an environment which raises awareness of sugar consumption and hidden sugars in food and promotes healthier choices when eating out.

Our aim was to promote nutrition messages, support access to healthier foods and improve cooking skills, in order to encourage everyone to have a healthier diet. Bristol was the first city to launch becoming a sugar-smart city and has done so with a loud bang. Listening and engaging with the community, within the first 6 months of launching the campaign an estimated Email: 600,000 people have been reached with sugar-smart messages (excluding [email protected] TV coverage). The campaign has also been recognised and supported by the Website: Local Enterprise Partnership, education and health services, and a range of https://www.bristol.gov.uk/web/live-well-bristol/sugar-smart businesses as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

208 209